On May 10, 2024, a local mom left her five-year-old unattended for just a few minutes in their family car. In that time, the child accessed the vehicle console and removed an unsecured handgun from the console. The child accidentally discharged the pistol, sending a round into the garage. The child was taken to the hospital due to the recoil causing an injury to the child’s lip. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured in this incident.
Prescott Valley Police Department reminds gun owners that they are responsible for the firearms they own. Guns must be responsibly stored making them inaccessible to children. In Arizona, it is the gun owner’s responsibility and legal obligation to know the laws of the state regarding gun ownership as well as safe firearm handling and storage. In a healthychildren.org article, it was reported that firearms are the leading cause for death for kids and teens under the age of 18. This is a scary statistic when you think about the fact that even young toddlers can find unsecured guns in a home and are strong enough to pull a trigger.
Here are a few safety tips:
- Keep guns and ammunition stored in locked containers or gun safes. Keep the keys or code hidden from children and teens. In a nightstand or under a car seat is not good enough when children are present. Kids are curious, and studies show they usually know where a family keeps the gun.
- Talk to your kids about firearms and what to do if they find one.
- Before you leave your child with a friend or family member, ask about guns in their homes.
