Even the penalty for irresponsible gunowners is a relatively minor misdemeanor. A gunowner can be grossly negligent in a way that results in the death of a child and not even lose his gun rights under this bill. Also, the bill doesn't make negligent gun storage a new prosecutable crime. Careless gunowners can already be prosecuted under the state's reckless endangerment and second degree manslaughter statutes. This is the same argument abortion rights extremists use to justify partial-birth abortions.
Any restriction whatsoever is treated as the first step toward total abolition.
What they overlook, of course, is that laws that defend the indefensible are themselves a target for the very people they most oppose. Handgun Control, Inc. refused to support the Washington State safe storage bill at first because they wanted a far more restrictive law and were concerned that this approach would undermine stronger proposed mandated legislation in other states. Let's take this opportunity to build a majority coalition in favor of responsible gun ownership in America. If you don't agree with me, then point your loaded gun at your foot and pull the trigger.