Whether it’s 77 accidental gun deaths a year of minors in the United States as the government says, or almost double that as media outlets’ own counts claim, the toll is only a small percentage of all accidental deaths of young people a year.
Nevertheless, the science exists to significantly reduce the chance that a child will shoot himself or another child.
It is mule-headed of the NRA and other gun lobbyists to oppose regulations that would require gun manufacturers to implement smart technology to prevent a gun from being fired except by an authorized user.
Education in firearm safety, which the NRA encourages, is important, of course. Many of these accidental deaths of minors occur when a firearm is left unloaded and unsecured in a house.
Firearm safety, though, shouldn’t be limited to any one front. It should combine both education and available technology.
Smart guns have other advantages besides reducing the risk to children. The technology also can reduce gun thefts and the chance of the gun being turned on its owner.
It’s irresponsible to resist making guns safer.
