I won’t say children and guns don’t mix, but mostly because it’s so important that children learn about guns at a young age. However, kids and their access to guns need to be controlled. There’s a reason why we don’t let children drive cars, vote, or other similar things, after all. Their judgment has to develop.

Unfortunately, it seems that there’s a bit of a problem in Utah.

In particular, it seems that children in Salt Lake City are getting access to firearms and the results are tragic.

In the wake of recent tragic incidents involving children and firearms, gun safety remains a topic of discussion.

In August, a child in Santaquin lost their life after accidentally discharging a gun inside a home, and to begin September an 8-year-old died early Tuesday morning after accidentally firing a gun inside a car at a gas station.

Raelle Cunningham is a resident of Spanish Fork and the State Director for the group Women for Gun Rights.

Cunningham, who is also a mother of three, emphasized the importance of education in preventing such tragedies.

She highlighted that her organization is dedicated to firearm education, which she believes is crucial in keeping kids safe.

“We take our kids everywhere, when we go to the range our kids come with us,” Cunningham said. “We’re all about education and teaching about firearms.”

Cunningham said that teaching kids about firearms starts at an early age.

I agree.

I think there needs to be a multi-prong approach to the issue, and education is where it starts. Kids need to be educated not just on what to do if they come across a firearm but also just what a gun can do. Use the most graphic demonstration possible–the old watermelon test is probably ideal for this when it’s not great for most other things–so that kids understand that guns are dangerous.

She also argues that education removes the stigma of guns, which is enticing to children, which is certainly valid. I know that the forbidden nature of a lot of things, including firearms, creates a perverse allure that can create more issues in the long run.

Cunningham went on to argue that storage is good, but security matters. Again, I agree. I think guns should be secured when not in use, but my definition of “not in use” isn’t the same as some anti-gunner’s might be. Within reach in case someone busts into the house is “in use” in my book.

But just laying around where a kid can access it and you can’t necessarily is a recipe for bad news.

What’s worse is that tons of people get away with it all the time. They get away with doing everything wrong and never face any fallout from it, which just encourages them to do so.

Don’t be that person.

Take the necessary steps. Cunningham made some good suggestions at that link, so go and check them out. Do the right thing for your child’s safety and the safety of others. Just because you’ve been lucky up until now doesn’t mean your luck will hold out indefinitely.