“It’s an unfair amount of responsibility to put on a child, no matter how old they are.”

This video is just over two minutes long and was released just last week. Darchel and Jacob Mohler are the parents of 13-year-old Brooklynn Mae Mohler who was unintentionally shot and killed by her best friend with an unlocked and loaded gun. Please watch.

Anyone who follows this page or is a Safe Tennessee Project member knows that the negligent storage of firearms leads to senseless and preventable tragedy on a near daily basis. Gun violence is a complicated issue but safe storage is not.

“Accidental shootings” are not accidents - they are 100% preventable.

Are you a parent? What happens when your child goes to a friend’s house to play and never comes home again because the friend’s parents couldn’t be bothered to lock up their guns? Always ASK how your child’s friend’s parents store their guns.

ALWAYS.

Are you a gun owner? Please keep your guns locked and away from children. What happens when your child or a friend of your child’s picks up your gun and shoots themselves? Even though currently in the state of Tennessee you would not be charged with a crime, could you live with yourself knowing that your negligence led to a child’s death- led to YOUR child’s death?
Think about it. Please think about it. And, if you have guns, be a responsible gun owner and lock up your guns. Do it today. Your child’s life depends on it.

Here’s the list of Tennessee children who lost their lives this year because the adult gun owners in their lives were irresponsible and negligent. These children did not open presents this Christmas and they will not celebrate another birthday. They’ll never go to college, get married, or have a family.

Shame on us as a country and a state for taking no steps to prevent more of these senseless and preventable tragedies.

#NotAnAccident #SafeStorageSavesLives

December – Estill Springs

11 year-old Sienna Owens who was shot and killed at her 12-year-old friend’s house. Sienna and several friends were at a boy’s home and the children were in the garage. A gun was produced, a single shot was fired, and Sienna Owens was killed. Police are still investigating the shooting to determine if it was unintentional. However, the death of this young girl is 100% due to the negligent storage of a gun. Middle school aged children should not be allowed access to loaded guns without adult supervision.

http://www.newschannel5.com/news/family-of-11-year-old-killed-in-franklin-county-shooting-speaks-out

November 2015 – Goodlettsville

A father who always kept his loaded gun nearby for protection was watching TV with his two young sons. The gun had a laser sight and the father was teasing the family cat with the laser. He set the gun down and left the room. The older boy picked up the gun and tried to operate the laser but instead, accidentally shot his little brother in the head, killing him.

http://www.tennessean.com/story/news/local/sumner/2015/11/23/goodlettsville-police-id-boy-shot-saturday/76273634/

October – White Pine

8-year-old MaKayla Dyer who was INTENTIONALLY shot by her 11-year old neighbor when she refused to let him play with her puppy. The boy used his father’s loaded shotgun, kept in an unlocked closet in a trailer full of children. Although this incident was intentional, the death was 100% due to the negligent storage of the father’s shotgun. The boy is charged with first degree murder but the father will not be charged with anything.

http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/08/us/girl-killed-puppy-in-tennessee/

August 2015 – Murfreesboro

A 15-year-old popular football player was accidentally shot in the head at his home. He was life flighted and kept on life support. Four days later, he was declared brain dead.

http://www.dnj.com/story/news/2015/09/02/loupe-family-awaits-brain-scan-results-spokesman-says/71586574/

August 2015 – Robertson County
The 15-year-old son of a Robertson County deputy was accidentally shot and killed. No word on who shot him, only that it was an accident. The boy’s father is the school resource officer at his high school.

http://www.wsmv.com/story/29723748/robertson-county-deputys-son-killed-in-accidental-shooting

June 2015 – Memphis
While his mother was at the store and his father was doing yard work, a 4-year-old found his father’s loaded gun and shot and killed himself with it.

http://www.myfoxmemphis.com/story/29289286/identities-released-for-child-father-involved-in-accidental-shooting-death

April 2015 – Memphis
Two seniors were playing with a gun on senior skip day. The guns accidentally discharged, killing one of the teens. The shooter has been charged with reckless homicide.

http://www.wmcactionnews5.com/story/28885044/teen-killed-in-accidental-shooting-during-senior-skip-day

March 2015 – Nashville
2-year-old child killed in Madison apartment. Investigation is ongoing but it is likely the child fired the gun himself. No charges have been filed.

http://www.wsmv.com/story/28705897/2-year-old-dies-after-being-shot-in-madison-apartment

March 2015 – Nashville
An 11-year-old little boy and a 15-year-old boy were playing with a gun when the 11-year-old accidentally shot and killed the 15-year-old.

http://www.tennessean.com/story/news/2015/03/06/teenager-killed-in-north-nashville-shooting/24538395/

February 2015 – Morgan County
A 15-year-old was at home with family when he removed a gun out of the family’s gun safe. The gun fired, killing the boy.

http://wate.com/2015/02/04/morgan-county-teen-shot-killed/