Group gives state ‘D’ in gun safety

Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2002 | 9:53 a.m.

A national organization today gave Nevada a "D" grade for its laws protecting children from handguns.

The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, based in Washington, D.C., said Nevada has a "very weak" juvenile possession law, no required background checks for private gun purchases -- especially at gun shows -- and inadequate laws to prevent child access to weapons.

The organization said that 48 Nevada children and teenagers died from firearm injuries in 1998, the latest year for which it could find data.

However, a leading Clark County-based organization in preventing unintentional child deaths and injuries says that while children being killed and wounded by guns certainly is tragedy, the statistics from such incidents pale compared with other mishaps.

"We are a small nonprofit organization and we have to set priorities based on mortality and morbidity," said Sharon Chayra, spokeswoman for the Clark County Safe Kids Coalition.

"The No. 1 killer and maimer of children is auto crashes -- we are talking about 10,000 injuries and death annually from such incidents. That is why much of our efforts is in the child safety seat program."

Chayra said that for children 4 years old and younger, child drownings and near-drownings far outdistance gun incidents, and there are hundreds of injuries related to bicycles, skateboards and in-line skates, which are high on the Clark County Safe Kids Coalition priority list.

Also, Chayra said, that while the auto industry is supportive of Safe Kids' efforts to improve safety for child passengers, it is unlikely the powerful gun lobby would be so sympathetic.

"When you are a local organization with limited finances, it is not a good practice to compete with the big boys," Chayra said.

The Brady Campaign gave "D" and "F" grades to 29 states -- many of which had child and teen firearm death rates higher than the national average.

However, the organization, working with the Million Mom March for its fifth annual state gun grading, noted that there has been a decrease in the numbers of children killed nationwide by guns.

"Our efforts to protect children from senseless gun violence are paying off," said Brady Campaign Chairwoman Sarah Brady, wife of Jim Brady, press secretary to former President Ronald Reagan. Jim Brady and Reagan were shot outside a Washington, D.C., hotel in 1981. That incident led to passage of the Brady Bill toughening handgun laws.

"Nine child gun deaths per day nationwide is still nine too many," Sarah Brady said.

The Brady group also said Nevada "prevents cities and counties from enacting stricter laws to prevent gun violence and from holding the gun industry accountable for its negligent practices such as failing to include basic safety features on guns that would prevent unintentional shootings."