Monday, Feb. 11, 2002

By Staff
How safe is your child from guns?
To the editor,
May I ask you a question? No judgments. No disrespect. Nothing personal. Do you have a gun in your home? If so is it properly stored (unloaded and locked, ideally in a gun safe). You may think I'm being a bit forward, but I'm sure you agree that when it comes to our children's safely none of us want to take any chances.
As concerned parents we don't hesitate to ask about the normal things (seat belts, animals, allergies or access to alcohol) to protect our children's safety. Why don't we ask about loaded guns in the home? Until recently I never did. I assumed because my home was safe, the homes where my children went to play were also. Not so. Did you know over 40 percent of homes with children have a gun and almost half of those guns are left unlocked or loaded. Most children who are injured or killed in unintentional shootings are shot in their own homes or in the homes of relatives or friends.
Most parents say, "I have talked to my child about guns." But talking to your kids about the dangers of firearms is not enough. We need to talk to our neighbors and friends. Kids are naturally curious. They are also naturally fascinated with guns. That means if there is a gun accessible, there is a good chance kids will find it and play it. A typical three year old is strong enough to pull the trigger of a handgun. Most parents think that their gun is hidden. Please don't. A recent study showed that over 75 percent of kids in homes with guns say they know where the gun is hidden. Every day 10 children are killed by a gun, and every day there is a new parent that wishes they had asked the question.
I am only asking to protect my child from a senseless tragedy. No judgments. No disrespect. Nothing personal. Is there a gun in the home where your child plays?
Rhonda Morrow
Meridian
P.S.: In case you're wondering, I do have guns in my home. They are unloaded. They all have trigger locks. They all are locked in a secure place.
Downtown parking garages don't work
To the editor,
I was the manager of Marks-Rothenberg and am interested in the future of downtown. My comments are based on facts. The past expensive downtown parking garages have been flops. Look at them. Take their history. Why did they close?
The studies on the new plans shows little practical usage. Cars will line up in the streets to get into the buildings, driving up as many as five floors and it is going to be scary to go to the elevators or stairs to go down. At evening they reverse this. I can tell you that there will be car jams all over in the buildings. My opinion is that this will kill the system again.
Jack Schons
Meridian