Use Of Firearms

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31279, 27 January 1967, Page 10

Use Of Firearms

Sir,—This morning I read about a fatal shooting accident. The 15-year-old victim was shot by a 12-year-old. How many of this type of deaths this season? I think a firearm is always dangerous and must be handled with care—by an adult, not by a child. However, many parents seem to think it quite in order to give their youngsters a loaded gun. When there is no law against children playing around with these dangerous “toys,” why don’t some parents show more sens? by giving more sensible presents?—Yours, etc., ANTI-CHILD-GUN. January 25, 1967.

Sir,—One might infer, from the recent report of a shooting fatality, that a .22 rifle somehow or other managed to load itself, put itself into the hands of a small boy, point its muzzle at another youngster, and pull the trigger—so little suggestion was there that any human agency or fallibility was involved. Time and again, I have ventured to protest that about 99-9 per cent of these unhappy incidents are somebody’s fault, and therefore avoidable. Most of them concern youngsters, who can hardly be blamed if they have never been thoroughly instructed in the proper handling of leithal weapons. Surely to goodness, it is worth while taking such an obvious precaution when so much, in the form of death or injury, is at stake.—Yours, etc., M.T. January 26, 1967.