This notion in fact pervaded the Michigan school shooting news coverage, which was nothing short of sensationalism. Because cases of innocent children dying are so tragic, they make for big news stories. But the heavy press coverage implies that these deaths happen all the time. In fact, a reputable study by the National Center for Health Statistics and the National Safety Council shows that during the years 1993 through 1996, guns were involved in less than 4 percent of all accidental deaths among children under 15. Since then, the percentage has only declined.
More children die as a result of swimming pool accidents than gun accidents.
Safety locks seem like a quick and easy fix, and support for them is becoming increasingly popular among politicians. But, as usual, the solution is not so simple. Responsible gun owners already use these locks - it's not as if they're hard to find, as 80 percent of guns sold have them included by the manufacturer. Unfortunately, these are the same people who will never use them. However, the nation's reaction reveals a bigger problem.