Firearms are the second leading cause of death for children and teens in Oklahoma, a statistic that Sen. Mary Boren said she hopes to change with her Senate Bill 1294.
The legislation would clarify that it is legal for a child to possess a firearm for hunting or for hunter safety classes or for training in safe gun use. It also would clarify the responsibility of owners to supervise a child’s use of a firearm.
“Every year, hundreds of children across the nation get ahold of firearms and unintentionally and tragically shoot themselves or someone else. Oklahoma has the tenth highest rate of gun death in the country, with an average of 711 people killed each year, including 55 children and teens,” Boren said. “Most of these deaths are tragically due to suicide, and too many deaths are a result of preventable accidents. Something must be done to better protect our state’s youth and prevent these accidental shootings and senseless deaths.”
“Oklahomans love their guns, hunting and recreational shooting, but we must do better to make sure children don’t have easy access or unsupervised use of firearms,” Boren said.