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.

Classic: The Old Man and the Sea
Genre: Fiction
Author: Ernest Hemingway
Profile Manager: Lucian Figliulo

Seeking New Readers:

My ideal date must love deep sea fishing because that is my life’s work and passion. A knowledge of sail boats is also a plus. On our first date we can go out on my small, but comfortable, skiff. Although the sails are patched with flour sacks, it is a reliable boat. Maybe you will bring me good luck because once, for 87 days, I went without a catch, and I don’t want that to happen again. We can sail the Caribbean together, looking for the biggest fish. A long time ago I almost had him but he was eaten by sharks. I will introduce you to my young friend and apprentice, the boy Manolin. He is like the son I never had. He gives me a report on American baseball every morning. Do you like baseball? My favorite player is the great Joe DiMaggio. But the most important thing you should know about me is that I enjoy a challenge and I refuse to give up until I have achieved my goal. Are you be willing to help me?

In the third quarter we worked on learning the first law of thermodynamics. We started by learning about kinetic and potential energy. Then we learned about the different types of energy and the transfers between them. We also used hydro/wind/solar power to produce electricity. My favorite project was the renewable energy device. We made a device that used renewable energy to make a light bulb turn on. It was my favorite because we had a creative licence with our designs and the where we would place them in the city. I also liked it because it was educational but at the same time fun. The project I excelled in the most was the classification of the forms of energy because it was exciting and I was good at grouping them together in the right way. Throughout the quarter I improved my ability to do independent work.  At the beginning of the year I used to turn in assignments that were not legible or did not make sense, but now I check over my work and most of my writing comes out very well. One area I still need to work on for the coming quarter is my independent work in a group. I need to do my share instead of my partner doing all the work or vice verse. One strategy that could help me improve my independent work would be to divide the work evenly between my partners and I before starting the project. Overall this quarter was very fun, educational and I’m looking forward to the new quarter.

This is my Renewable Energy device. I worked on this project with other. Our energy source was Hydro.