The headline for today’s newspaper was another child shot be accident. Supposedly the two year old got the loaded pistol from a television stand (no trigger lock) and shot himself in the head. This was supposed to have occurred with the father in the same room. A couple of days ago a cop had to shoot a 14 year old girl carrying an AK47. The 12 year old boy dopper a loaded shotgun. The kids had gotten them and lots of ammunition from a house.

            The commonality of these two incidents is improperly stored weapons. The pistol was loaded and supposedly stored in a television stand. The AK47 must have been loaded since I doubt a 14 year old girl would know how to load and chamber the first round. None of the guns had trigger locks or were in gun safes. A Morris cop told me that is a law for Illinois.

            My questioning of the Morris cop went into penalties for those who improperly stored their guns. Apparently it is no more than a misdemeanor with a slight slap on the wrist unless someone is killed. I didn’t ask what responsibility an owner has if their guns were stolen and used in a crime.

            I think the laws should be passed to make it a jail term for an improperly stored weapon. Seldom does a gun owner need a gun in their home. It is much more likely to go off accidently killing another household member. The member is more than likely a child. Any permit should include the facts and penalty for improper storage.