This is my OP-Ed for the NY time contest

Lock It Up: Pass Nicholas’ Law

By Lucian Figliulo

In December 2010, 12-year old Nicholas Naumkin of Saratoga Springs, New York was at his friend’s house playing video games. The boys discovered an unlocked and loaded 9 Millimeter handgun, belonging to Nicholas’ friend’s father. Playing with the gun, Nicholas was unintentionally shot in the head by his friend and pronounced dead at the Albany Medical Center. The gun owner pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor and paid a fine of only $250.

Nicholas’ story is all too common: children have easy access to unlocked and loaded guns leading them to hurting themselves or others. Half of all unintentional shootings among children occur at home. From 2005-2010, almost 3,800 people in the U.S. died from unintentional shootings. Nicholas Naumkin’s story also shows that gun owners’ consequences are too lenient. According to the NYAGV (New Yorkers Against Gun Violence), “nearly two million children live in homes where guns are loaded and unlocked.” They also report that, “one third of households [in America] with children under 18 contain firearms.” The New York times wrote, “Each year, an estimated 1,500 children ages 14 or younger are treated in hospital emergency rooms for unintentional firearm injuries…” These facts show that safe storage of firearms must be made a priority by our state government.

In response to Nicholas’ tragedy, the NYAGV has proposed the Nicholas’ Law. The law requires, “Safe storage of all guns not in the immediate possession or control of the gun owner, either in a safe storage depository or with a locking device, to prevent access by children and others who should not have access to them.” This law prevents children from accessing a gun in their home. This lowers the amount of accidental gun deaths in households with minors. The law will also increase the penalties on owners who fail to follow this law.

Supporters of the Nicholas’ Law should send a message to their New York State Senators and State Assembly Representatives. Citizens can also sign the petition for Nicholas’s Law and share it with friends. They can directly support the NYAGV by contacting nyagv@nyagv.org. Nicholas’ Law will not restrict anyone from using their gun, or take guns from their possession. The law will only make it safer for the children and other people in your home. Your involvement and participation could save many lives and prevent another tragedy like Nicholas’s from ever happening again. As an 8th grade student at Little Red School House in New York it is hard for me to understand why people would not lock up their guns, not even for the safety of their children. We all must play a part in stopping unnecessary gun violence.