It is ridiculous to suppose that someone who traffics in drugs and steals guns, or accepts stolen ones, will take the extra step of attaching trigger locks. But, whoa, I forgot to lock the trigger on that piece I stole yesterday. Prosecutors are heading in that direction. In Michigan, police arrested James and charged him with involuntary manslaughter for allegedly allowing the boy access to the gun. The boy's mother has been accused of neglect.
Trigger locks are a good idea.
I can't imagine why anyone with young children in the house wouldn't use them. But a law insisting on their use would be as effective as laws insisting that people not steal or use drugs, or a law requiring them to be good parents. JWR contributor Kathleen Parker can be reached by clicking here.