Second best way to reduce gun injuries is to use trigger locks and lock boxes | Guestview

Adele Lott | Guest columnist

According to the American Psychological Association, the United States has the highest rate of gun-related injuries among developed countries. That may come as no surprise to many of us. But a majority of Americans and even NRA members support common sense gun safety measures.

Unfortunately, it does not appear that any action will be taken at the national level in this regard in the near future. Nevertheless, gun violence and deaths continue to occur whether in mass murders, gang violence, road rage, or suicides. Sometimes we may feel there is nothing we can do. However, there is something that responsible gun owners can do to help change these trends. Lock it pp and discuss the danger of guns with your children.

Since 2005 licensed gun exporters, manufacturers, and dealers have been required to provide a gun lock when they make a sale. However, many people still fail to secure their guns either because they do not have a gun lock or because they do not understand the impact this can make. Approximately 4.6 million kids in the U.S. live in homes with unsecured guns. Eight children are killed or injured unintentionally by an unlocked gun every day. At least 857 people were injured by unintentional gun fire in Florida in 2017.

To compound the problem, Florida’s Concealed Carry Law does not specify how guns should be carried. According to a Tampa Times May 17, 2019 article, the most dangerous way to carry a weapon is in a purse because that can lead to accidental shootings. Recently in our area, a toddler was shot playing with his grandmother’s purse on a car seat.

In addition, cities are seeing a rise in guns stolen from cars. Many of these are later used in other crimes. More than 650 were stolen from one Florida city from 2017 to mid-2018. To reduce the likelihood of this happening, guns should be locked in the glove department, trunk, or lock box when traveling in a car.

To counter these trends, the American Academy of Pediatricians has taken a stand on gun safety. They found in a recent multi-site study that keeping a gun locked and keeping a gun unloaded have protective effects of 73% and 70% respectively for both unintentional harm and suicide for both children and adolescents. Other effective methods include family counseling by physicians to encourage safe storage of guns in the home and elsewhere, combined with distribution of gunlocks. Both of these can be effective in preventing accidental and intentional injuries.

The AAP also found the most effective measure is the absence of guns in both homes and communities. Since that is not likely to occur in our nation at this time, the best approach to reduce gun injuries is to store guns unloaded and locked with ammunition stored separately. Use trigger locks and lock boxes. Save a life...Lock It Up

Adele Lott is a member of the Gun Safety Committee of the League of Women Voters Pensacola Bay Area.