A gun lock.
By Kathleen Berger
St. Louis, MO (KSDK) - According to research provided by the CDC, 1.7 million kids in the United States are living with loaded and unlocked firearms.
The experts say this is a deadly risk considering child development experts say kids are attracted to guns.
In an unscientific test, with the permission a local daycare, NewsChannel 5 rolled tape on a toy box that had toy water guns mixed in with an equal number of toys. Eight four-year olds, four boys and four girls took a turn picking out a toy. Six of the kids went right for the water guns. Only one boy picked a robot. And just one girl picked a doll.
Not surprising to Cardinal Glennon Pediatrician Dr. Heidi Sallee.
"There's certainly lots of families who don't even allow for play guns and things like that so when there's something new and different. They're going to explore it," said Dr. Sallee.
Dr. Salle said boys have a predisposition to guns. It's not unusual to find various toy guns at homes with young boys.
"With boys, they're usually a little more physical, and they play with different toys," said Dr. Sallee.
When the real thing is there, loaded and within reach, children are likely to satisfy their curiosity.
"They're going to go for it, they're going to say, 'What is this, how does it work?'" she said.
For a small child to fire a handgun, NRA firearms instructor Steven King has a good idea what it would take.
"I don't believe a three-year old child would have the dexterity to put the magazine in, rack the slide, maybe remove the safety," King said. "These guns are loaded, ready to shoot at a moment's notice, and the child is picking it up and pulling the trigger."
King, who owns Belleville Indoor Shooting Range, said lives can be saved with a lock, which requires a key to unlock it. But if you want it quickly, he suggests a safe with a fast and easy keypad.
Gun safes are priced at about $100 on up. Gun locks are just a few bucks, or you can get one the firearm industry provides, free of charge, from your local law enforcement agency.
KSDK