Quote:
Originally Posted by LittleDog
It seems to me that in recent shootings the weapons were not secured by the parent. I think that if those parents were charged with an accessory to murder that maybe those parents with children and weapons in the house would think twice about securing their weapons.
John
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When, and whether, young people can be entrusted with firearms is a complex issue.
In southern states where hunting is often a multi-generational family tradition, children may be involved in gun handling, gun safety, and shooting at an early age. During hunting season, guns are brought out, sighted in, cleaned, and prepared for the hunting trip. Guns may be all over the house.
Certainly, in hunting camp, guns are everywhere, although proper procedure demands that they not be loaded in camp.
In the face of this casual access to guns during a part of the year, it is often difficult for a parent to believe that during the rest of the year his children should be mistrusted about access to firearms.
In rural or semi-rural areas of the south it is commonplace for a rifle or shotgun to be behind a door or in a closet for ready access if it might be needed to protect livestock from a predator or the family from an intruder. It would be unthinkable to lock the gun in some manner that would inhibit its rapid deployment.
Florida law prohibits leaving a loaded firearm where a minor might gain access to it. It should be in a locked box or secured with a trigger lock. Locked boxes and trigger locks are relatively inexpensive items, and should be used.