A three-year old Jacksonville, Florida boy found a loaded and unsecured gun in the bedroom of his home today. He shot himself in the head and died.

Alexander Sibley, a 36-year old man, was later arrested and charged with illegal gun possession based on a prior felony conviction.  A neighbor told a reporter, “I do think the individual who had the gun out, in the sight of that child, I do think he should pay the consequences for what has happened.”

According to a summary contained in the news report, “Florida law requires firearms that could potentially be accessed by a minor to be kept in a locked box, a secure location, or secured with a trigger lock.”  Whether relying on the summary or on the text of the law, the definition of a “secure location” creates some ambiguity, because it is unclear what locations a “reasonable person” would consider secure.  [According to the report, a Jacksonville police lieutenant, “encouraged community members to secure their firearms in a safe place and practice proper gun safety,”  a standard that is even less protective of children.]  Failure to comply with Florida’s safe storage law is a misdemeanor.

Finally, no one questioned why we allow gun manufacturers to design guns that a three-year old can fire. 

Source:

Mindy Wadley, “Jacksonville Man Charged in Connection with Toddler’s Accidental Shooting Death,” First Coast News (April 5, 2022).