Three children killed in accidental shootings in Louisiana this week should serve as a reminder to be extra vigilant about gun safety. Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff Gerald Sticker said we have a gun culture in the U.S. and especially here in Louisiana.
“And it’s just a reminder to parents to be as responsible as they possibly can; don’t leave anything to chance,” said Sticker.
Sticker reminds gun owners to secure their firearms in a location that is not easily accessible and to consider storing firearms in a lock box or gun safe. He also advises using trigger locks on all weapons.
“Anybody that has children, and we’ve all been children at one time, we know what we can get into as kids. If it’s there they will find it. We just have to assume they will find it,” said Sticker.
In addition to those tips, Sticker said to store guns unloaded and ammunition in a separate location.
“So that way, worst case, if a child does get a hold of a firearm, it is unloaded and the ammunition is not present with it,” said Sticker.
In Lafayette Thursday, a four-year-old child was accidentally fatally shot by his 10-year-old brother. In Hammond, a three-year-old boy died after getting his hands on a gun and shooting himself in the face Wednesday. In St. Tammany Parish, Tuesday a 15-year-old girl was killed by a relative who was handling a firearm in another room.
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