I’m writing regarding the lack of child access prevention laws in Washington state. Twenty-seven states across the country and the District of Columbia already have CAP laws in place. As a result, one study reports a 23 percent drop in unintentional firearm deaths in children younger than 15 years. I often hear that guns don’t kill people, rather people kill people. Tell that to the parents of over 100 children who were unintentionally killed in 2014 by a 3-, 4- or 5-year-old friend.
As a mother, I’m afraid of letting my young children go to a friend’s house for a play date because I don’t know if their parents have a gun laying out. I tell my children all the time to not touch guns but I don’t know if my neighbors do the same.
This is America, we protect people all around the world but somehow we cannot protect our own children. In the end we all want to protect the rights of responsible gun owners, however in the public’s mind they are getting lumped in with the irresponsible gun extremists. I have friends who are members of the National Rifle Association and they all promote gun safety and sensible laws, so when are our politicians going to listen? Either they aren’t doing their job or they’re too busy pleasing the gun lobby.
Call your representative and ask for action. It could save your child’s life.
Anna Smith
Vancouver
