[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 136 (Thursday, October 11, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S10634]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            SIX SIMPLE STEPS

  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, an organization called Common Sense about 
Kids and Guns has developed a list of six gun safety tips that have 
been endorsed by a wide range of organizations from the National SAFE 
KIDS Campaign to the National Shooting Sport Foundation. Regardless of 
our differences of opinion on how to regulate firearms, I think we can 
all agree that these simple steps make a lot of sense.
  All gun owners should unload and lock up their guns, lock and store 
ammunition separately and keep keys where kids are unable to find them. 
In addition, parents should ask if guns are safely stored at places 
their kids visit or play, regularly talk with their kids about guns, 
and teach young children both not to touch guns and tell an adult if 
they find one.
  The Centers for Disease Control's National Center for Health 
Statistics reports that firearm deaths of children and teens is 
dropping. However, ignoring firearms related child homicides, there 
were still 1,300 kids killed in gun-related accidents and suicides in 
1999. That number remains far too high. Remembering the six simple 
steps proposed by Common Sense about Kids and Guns can help cut that 
number even more.

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