The Arizona chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America released the following statement from chapter leader Kara Pelletier in response to authorities’ discovery of 20 unsecured guns — and thousands of rounds of ammunition — in the home of a toddler who shot himself earlier this year. Moms Demand Action is calling on the Pima County Attorney to investigate and consider filing charges against the parents who failed to secure loaded guns out of the reach of children.
“Moms Demand Action is asking Pima County Attorney Barbara LaWall to investigate and consider filing charges against the parents of an Arizona toddler who found a loaded gun in his home on March 3rd and shot himself in the abdomen. Currently the shooting is being considered “accidental” — but it is no accident a curious child finds a gun whose owner left it unlocked and loaded; it’s negligence and adults must be held accountable.
“Although the toddler survived, last week detectives discovered 20 unsecured guns — many of them loaded — in addition to thousands of rounds of ammunition accessible in the home. Arizona mothers are outraged by the lack of responsibility shown by the boy’s parents and we are concerned for him and the three other children still living in the home.
“When a toddler gains access to a loaded gun and unintentionally shoots himself it teaches a clear lesson: guns must be stored responsibly and safely. If parents fail to learn this lesson after their child is shot, and continue to leave nearly two dozen guns readily available to curious children, the Pima County Attorney should consider filing charges under Arizona’s endangerment or child abuse and neglect laws.
“Our children deserve to be protected from preventable gun violence. More than 2 million American children live in homes with unsecured firearms, and children in the United States are 16 times more likely to be accidentally shot and killed than kids in other developed countries. A majority of these deaths happen when children are in their own homes, unsupervised, and playing with a gun. We must do more to hold parents accountable and ensure responsible storage of firearms – our children’s lives depend on it.”
