Texas does have a law that requires firearms to be secured, but it is the weakest in the nation.

Texas law is less stringent than the child-access prevention laws in other states both because of its lower age requirement and because it penalizes only adults whose guns are loaded when they are accessed by children. In other states, experts said, parents can be penalized when their unloaded guns and their ammunition are accessible separately.

Imagine that: the father who supplied the guns will likely be unpunished, and will likely continue on with his life, thinking he is a responsible gun owner.

When I served in the Army I was taught that there are no accidental shootings. If your firearm discharged when it was not supposed to then you were held responsible for that discharge. If you did not secure your weapon at all times, you would be punished. Ask any veteran who carried a firearm on a routine basis what would happen if that weapon was lost or misplaced. Every single one of them, regardless of political leaning, will have a story to tell about it. When I was a young corporal I misplaced three rounds of 5.56mm ball ammunition for my M16A2, I was panicked—I saw myself being busted to PV2, losing a month or more of pay, and being restricted to quarters. For three bullets. Luckily I was able to retrace my steps and find the magazine that contained those missing three rounds.

If we cannot restrict the sales of firearms then it is time we start punishing people who do not secure their firearms, and people who “accidentally” discharge weapons. Enough excuses. If your kid takes your gun, if your gun is stolen, then you are just as culpable as the person pulling the trigger.

If you are a gun owner, secure your weapons. Use gun safes and trigger locks—and the keys should then be secured.

I am sick and tired of reading of more innocent children being killed. I am sick and tired of goddamn thoughts and prayers. We need to do something!