A gun in the home can lead to tragedy

Now that Wilmette and Morton Grove have repealed their handgun bans, people around the state might be rushing to buy guns in the name of protecting their families.

But before they do that, they should think about the consequences of bringing guns into their homes.

According to a survey by the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, approximately 43 percent of American homes with children also have guns.

Nearly 50 percent of those households with children do not safely lock and store their firearms so that children cannot gain access to them.

Studies have shown homes with guns are three times more likely to experience a homicide and five times more likely to experience a suicide than homes without guns.

Contrary to popular belief, most children possess the strength to pull the trigger on a handgun.

We should all think hard about the risks that are involved before we bring guns into our homes, particularly in low-crime areas (like Wilmette and Morton Grove) where the likelihood of using a gun in self-defense is much smaller than the likelihood of a gun being used to injure or kill a member of your own household, whether intentional or not.

The cities of Chicago and Oak Park are not repealing their handgun bans in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling, since they know that the ruling was very specific to Washington, D.C.

The reason many of these other towns are repealing their bans is to avoid the costly lawsuits that have already been filed by the gun lobby to help bolster their extreme position on guns.

Regardless, people need to understand the risks of bringing guns home before they rush out to bring home a loaded weapon in an attempt to protect their families.

That decision may very well result in tragedy rather than protection.

Patrick D. Thompson

Chair, Board of Directors

Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence

Chicago