The Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO

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December 31, 2008

Oklahoma: Deadly shooting prompts discussion of gun safety

The Associated Press

OKLAHOMA CITY — Michael Contway’s death followed what has become an all too familiar and tragic pattern in Oklahoma — an accidental shooting involving an unsupervised child with a loaded gun.

At least seven young people have died in Oklahoma since 2006, including shootings in Midwest City, Luther, Lawton, Wagoner, Oklahoma City, Cement and Anadarko.

Contway, 13, of Chandler, was carrying a .380-caliber pistol when he was accidentally shot in the forehead by his friend, also 13, who was carrying a .22-caliber pistol Contway had received for Christmas, police said. The two boys were playing in a rural area near Chandler when he was shot. The friend’s name has not been released.

Just five months ago, Mary White of Luther lost her 12-year-old son, John, after he was shot by a 14-year-old friend with a revolver the teenager found in his grandfather’s home.

“I think if there’s children in the house, a gun should have safety locks on them so incidents like this don’t happen,” White said Wednesday.

She has been pushing for mandatory gun locks in Oklahoma, but likely will face on uphill battle. Legislative efforts in Oklahoma tend to revolve around increasing, not decreasing, access to guns.

White has written letters to state lawmakers urging them to consider legislation requiring guns to be secured and prosecution for gun owners whose weapons are accessed by children.

“I haven’t gotten a single reply,” White said. “My next step is to get a petition signed and go door to door at the state Capitol.”

In a scorecard on the 50 states released earlier this year by the Washington, D.C.-based Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, Oklahoma tied for last place with just two points out of a possible 100.

Oklahoma scored zero points in categories like “protecting child safety,” “banning military-style assault weapons,” and “strengthening Brady background checks.”

“Our gun laws are so weak that, in most states, there are few or no laws to prevent gun violence,” Paul Helmke, president of the Brady Campaign, said after the report was released.

Indeed, Oklahoma is not alone in problems connected to accidental shootings. Last month, a 12-year-old boy was shot and killed in rural western New York while he and another boy were playing with a 12-guage shotgun. And in October, an 8-year-old Connecticut boy accidentally shot himself in the head with an Uzi at a gun show in Massachusetts.

Even police officers, who have extensive experience in handling firearms, aren’t immune from gun accidents. In August 2007, 5-year-old Austin Haley was shot in the head and killed while fishing with his grandfather at a pond near his grandfather’s Noble home. It was determined the deadly shot was fired by a Noble police officer who was attempting to shoot a snake lodged in a birdhouse. Three officers were fired, and two ultimately pleaded no contest to charges of second-degree manslaughter.

In Oklahoma, legislation targeting guns introduced for the upcoming session doesn’t show any indication that lawmakers are softening their position on gun control. State Rep. Eric Proctor, D-Tulsa, has introduced a bill to eliminate the sales tax on guns and ammunition, while Rep. Rex Duncan, R-Sand Springs, has proposed a bill that would prohibit employers from asking applicants if they own or possess firearms.

Last session, an attempt to allow some students on college campuses to arm themselves failed to gain support after an outcry from university officials who were opposed to the idea. Another proposal that failed would have lowered the concealed weapon permit age to 18 from 21.

State Rep. Al McAffrey, a former Oklahoma City police officer, said he hopes lawmakers would at least be willing to consider a requirement for safety devices on firearms.

“There should be regulations placed out there that there has to be some type of control placed on these guns when minors are able to have access to them,” said McAffrey, D-Oklahoma City. “We pass all these pro-life laws to protect the unborn child, but what happens to them when they’re born?

“I don’t believe in taking away second amendment rights, but we need to look at bills that will protect children.”

Charles Smith, executive director of the Oklahoma Rifle Association, said he opposes any effort to require guns to be locked or outfitted with trigger devices. Smith said more important is to promote efforts to educate children on gun safety.

“Even families that don’t have guns in their homes should have their child go through a gun safety course,” Smith said. “This child may go to another home where they do have guns. Every child should be taught about gun safety.”

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