The January 2016 sentencing of Raymond Fryberg Jr. on firearms charges draws a long, sad saga to a kind of closure. It also highlights ways in which the 2014 Marysville Pilchuck High School shooting might have been prevented. Among the other facts from this case, it is notable that the guns in Fryberg’s possession were stored at his home unsecured. Sadly, it was one of these improperly stored firearms that was used in the school shooting by his son, Jaylen Fryberg. Securing firearms is an important way to keep them out of the hands of people who shouldn’t have access.
Gun violence is a problem in the U.S., Washington state and our community. As a health-care professional, I am aware of the damage firearms can do. There are many proposed solutions to prevent further firearm related tragedies and many different opinions about what should be done. Regardless of your opinion on what policies should be enacted, there is something we can all do now to prevent further tragedies: proper gun storage.
Despite the obvious benefits of properly storing guns, it is estimated that 200,000 Washington children live in homes with unsecured firearms, and half of all Washington gun owners do not properly secure their guns. Evidence shows people don’t take the risk from unsecured firearms seriously enough. In a study of households in North Carolina, 99 percent reported having a functional smoke detector while only about 60 percent reported securing their guns. The risks from unsecured firearms are not being taken seriously enough! Despite this, the evidence is very clear that access to guns increases the risk of many types of injury in children and teens; this includes accidental injury and even the risk of suicide. Parents: lock up your guns!
Mike Nowak, R.N.
Marysville
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