Recent research that I have done, examining juvenile accidental gun deaths or suicides for all the states in the United States from 1977 to 1996, found that safe storage laws had no impact on either type of death. However, what did happen was that law-abiding citizens were less able to defend themselves against crime. The 15 states with such laws during this period recorded 300 additional murders and 3,860 additional rapes per year than they otherwise would have because of the law. Burglaries and robberies were also increased dramatically. Proposals in Colorado compound these problems by making parents criminally liable for their children improperly using guns.
Laws frequently have unintended consequences.
Sometimes even the best intentioned ones can cost lives. This article, from the Independence Institute staff, fellows and research network, is offered for your use at no charge. Independence Feature Syndicate articles are published for educational purposes only, and the authors speak for themselves. Nothing written here is to be construed as necessarily representing the views of the Independence Institute or as an attempt to influence any election or legislative action. Op-ed archive .