So far this year, 43 shootings involving toddlers aged three and under have been reported, according to data highlighted in a recent article from the Washington Post. Alarmingly, in 31 of these incidents, the young child unintentionally shot themselves after finding a gun.
Let that statistic sink in for a moment.
The article, titled “Toddlers are unintentionally shooting people on a weekly basis this year,” reveals some troubling figures: “In 2015, 13 toddlers fatally shot themselves, while 18 more sustained injuries, 10 unintentionally harmed others, and 2 tragically killed someone else.” These numbers only reflect cases where toddlers were the ones handling the firearm. The reality becomes even more concerning when considering all gun-related fatalities among children.
Nicholas Baker, in a piece for a well-known publication, stated that each year, more preschoolers die from gun-related incidents than law enforcement officers do in the line of duty. This assertion faced pushback, yet Politifact verified that firearm deaths among preschoolers have outnumbered those of police officers every year since 2008. It’s a troubling truth: more young children are falling victim to gun violence than those sworn to protect us.
The Need for Action
Addressing the issue of toddlers gaining access to firearms is crucial, and there are measures that can be taken to reduce these tragic incidents. Implementing safe storage laws could significantly lower the risk of accidental shootings. Additionally, holding adults accountable for improperly secured firearms may encourage responsible ownership. Currently, only a handful of states have laws that criminally charge adults if a child accesses an unsecured gun and causes harm. Why is that?
Research from Everytown indicates that between December 2012 and December 2013, at least 100 children lost their lives in accidental shootings—almost two each week—a figure 61% higher than federal statistics suggest. Jon S. Vernick, co-director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Policy and Research, noted that while we know how many children die annually from gun violence, the number of times a child pulls the trigger leading to a fatality is less clear.
Political Barriers to Research
For two decades, Congress has restricted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from utilizing funds to promote or advocate for gun control. This prohibition largely stems from the National Rifle Association’s significant lobbying influence, which posits that an increase in firearms leads to greater safety. However, evidence contradicts this notion, particularly concerning children’s safety. Following the tragic events at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012, President Obama vowed to take executive action to fund research on gun violence. Unfortunately, Congress has failed to allocate resources for this crucial research.
Our children are suffering as a result of Congress’s unwillingness to enact meaningful regulations on gun sales and safety measures. Moreover, there has been a stark disparity in funding research on gun injuries compared to other health issues. Kristoff’s op-ed highlights that from 1973 to 2012, the National Institutes of Health funded 89 grants for rabies research and 212 for cholera, but only three for firearm-related injuries.
Shifting the Blame
Instead of seeking solutions to our gun violence crisis, parents or victims are too often blamed for not knowing how to manage or securely store firearms. This narrative is particularly painful for families like that of a veteran who was fatally shot by her toddler last year while attending to her infant.
If individuals could genuinely be relied upon to self-regulate their actions with dangerous objects that pose a risk to life, there would be no necessity for various societal regulations like driver’s licenses, traffic laws, or fire safety measures. Yet, when it comes to firearms, many resist any form of regulation, claiming it infringes upon their rights. It’s imperative that we do better for the sake of our children.
43 shootings by toddlers in a single year should evoke shock, disgust, and a call to action.
Further Reading
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Summary
This article highlights the alarming number of shootings involving toddlers this year, emphasizing the need for safe gun storage laws and accountability for firearm owners. It sheds light on the tragic reality of gun violence affecting children and the challenges in addressing this issue due to political barriers. The narrative calls for improved regulations and societal responsibility to protect the youngest members of our community.