Sebastian Swartz, 9-Year-Old Boy, Dead After Shooting Himself With Father's Gun In Ohio

[Squinch]

89. OK, let's replace pro gun with pro driving a car.

In my youth, we were taught how to safely cross the street by our parents, our siblings, the people with whom we crossed the street. The schools were not considered responsible for teaching us how to safely cross the street. They still are not. No one is offering "street crossing" classes or a "street crossing" day.

I understand that, though many DUers are calling for full fledged gun classes to be taught in schools, that many others are calling for a day or a couple of days or a few hours dedicated to "get an adult." That might have been a very good idea in your day.

Today, because of the way schools work, there is not enough time to fit in science, social studies, physical education, sports, or vocational training. There are no extras. I do not support putting your gun safety day ahead of science or social studies. If we had the leeway to offer a day here and there on "non curricular" subjects, fine. But we don't.

As for your scenarios: the "dumpster gun" and the "bank robber's gun thrown into the bushes" are fantasies, or so rare as to be negligible in their numbers. Children find guns in their homes. Because their parents are stupid and irresponsible. Or in the home of a friend whose parents are stupid and irresponsible. These are gun owners. Probably gun owners who call themselves responsible. There is nothing impossible or laughable about the idea of actually making them responsible. If there were jail penalties for the gun owners whose guns are involved in crimes due to the gun owners' irresponsibility, they would become responsible pretty quickly. Kids wouldn't be finding unmonitored loaded guns in the nighttable, or in the car, or in the basement. This would all be moot.