GUN LOCKS CAN KILL

     (Springfield, VA) -- Gun Owners of America warned that Americans should take note of a horrible tragedy that occurred one year ago this month in Merced, California. It is a tragedy that could have been prevented.

     "On the morning of August 23, 2000, gun control claimed the lives of two small children," said GOA Communications Director, Erich Pratt.  "They were killed because the family gun was locked up in deference to California state law, thus leaving a family unprotected against a crazed thug."

     Last August, Jonathon David Bruce was high on drugs.  He slipped inside a home and began chasing the children through the house -- stabbing them repeatedly.  Because the household guns were locked up, nobody in the house could use them in time.  In fact, the family has publicly denounced state legislators for having forced them to choose between locking up their safety or going to prison.

     Mr. Bruce's murderous rampage was finally cut short when police officers arrived at the house.  They shot and killed Bruce, but not before two children had already been murdered.  

     "Notice that the attack screeched to a halt when the good guys -- carrying guns -- showed up on the scene," Pratt said.

     "Many legislators -- both at the state level and in Washington, D.C. -- seem to think they know what's best for each family in every situation.  Parents are told they need to put trigger locks on their guns.  Or that they must store their ammunition separately from their firearms.  Or that they must store the weapons in a safe.

     "But many times, locking up your safety in any of those ways can be deadly.  Americans use guns almost 50,000 times every week to defend themselves or others.  And in most of those situations, a trigger lock would give criminals the advantage.

     "When it comes to life or death issues, who is best suited to make choices for you?  You, or some faceless bureaucrat who is hundreds of miles away, impotent to rush to your aid?  You, or the politicians in the U.S. Congress?

     "It would, perhaps, help to know how those bureaucrats and politicians answer that question for themselves.  They are not left unprotected.  They have security officers nearby who are carrying guns.

     "And no, those guns don't have trigger locks on them," Pratt said.

     Erich Pratt is available for interviews.

(Article supplied by Larry Pratt;
Executive Director, The Gun Owners Of America)