Children Killed By Guns in Idaho

The 2nd Amendment right to bear arms is a right we take very seriously here in Idaho, but it's here in the Gem State where statistics show more children die from guns than in most states. Here are some of their stories. 

We have guns in our home. I don't even know how many. I know we have a safe that even I don't have the combination to. My husband has his concealed weapons permit, and although he is not much of a hunter, he enjoys skeet shooting with our son and going to the shooting range.

I'll be honest, I don't get it. I'm not opposed to it necessarily, but I didn't grow up around guns and I have no desire to shoot one. As long as they are locked away and handled responsibly, I don't have a problem.

These stories and statistics I just came across are startling though.

• 5 year old Noelle Shawver was shot by another 5 year old girl in a home in Pocatello in April, 2015.
• 15 year old Tristan Fenton of Meridian was unintentionally killed by his friend when a gun went off in October, 2015.
• 15 year old Israel Briones was killed in Caldwell in March of 2015 after he and a friend stole a gun and it accidentally went off.
• 29 year old Victoria Rutledge was killed when her toddler found a gun in her purse while they were at a Walmart in Hayden, Idaho in 2015.
• A 7 Year old boy from eastern Idaho was shot when his 9 year old brother moved the gun and it accidentally went off in April 2015. Luckily this little boy survived.
• 12 year old Kaitlynn Donahue was accidentally shot in the stomach at a gun range in February of 2016. She recovered.
• Idaho is 8th in the nation for accidental gun violence.

Lets let these stories serve as a constant reminder to keep your guns locked up and practice handling guns safely. Educate your children and hopefully we can get these statistics to go down!