Gwinnett Police PSA Targets Child Gun Safety

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA -- A public-service announcement from Gwinnett County Police is targeting child gun safety, in the wake of an 11-year-old boy's accidental death while playing with a handgun he found.

"The Second Amendment affords citizens the right to keep and bear arms. This right comes with great responsibilities for gun owners," Gwinnett Police Chief Butch Ayers said in a news release accompanying the video. "Guns must be kept secured and out of the reach of children and unauthorized persons. Don’t let an important right turn into a tragedy."

Last month, 11-year-old Alan Martinez, of Norcross, was killed while he and a 9-year-old were in his family's garage, playing with a handgun he'd found. Alan's mother was inside the home at the time of the shooting.

In the video, Gwinnett County Police Cpl. Deon Washington urges parents to take gun safety and education seriously.

"It could save the life of your child, or someone else's," he says.

The PSA notes that the majority of accidental shooting deaths involving children take place in the child's own home.

"A gun owner's most important responsibility is keeping it out of the wrong hands," Washington says. "Always keep guns stored, locked and out of reach of children by using a locked cabinet, safe or gun vault."

He also urges parents to talk about gun safety with their children when they are young.

"If they don't learn correctly from you, they may learn from their friends, television and video games," he says.

Also last month in Gwinnett, 6-year-old Ni-Shawn Moore was shot accidentally outside his home by a friend.

(Photo and video courtesy Gwinnett County Police Department)