OKLAHOMA CITY – Joe Dorman, chief executive officer of the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA), released the following statement following yet another accidental shooting of an Oklahoma child by another child who found a gun:
“First, we are incredibly grateful the injuries in this instance were not life-threatening. Sadly, however, we continue to see stories like this, where one child accidentally shoots another. Far too often are the results not as positive.
“The real tragedy is that these are wholly preventable incidents. A gun lock would have prevented a child from discharging a weapon they find.
“A few years ago, the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy sought and received a grant from the National Shooting Sports Federation to provide free gun locks. We still have a supply and are happy to share these gun locks with Oklahoma families who want to safeguard their firearms.
“We will continue to advocate the use of gun locks when children are in the home so that tragedies like this can be avoided.”
About OICA: The Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy was established in 1983 by a group of citizens seeking to create a strong advocacy network that would provide a voice for the needs of children and youth in Oklahoma, particularly those in the state’s care and those growing up amid poverty, violence, abuse and neglect, disparities, or other situations that put their lives and future at risk. Our mission statement: “Creating awareness, taking action and changing policy to improve the health, safety, and well-being of Oklahoma’s children.”