NEW ORLEANS — The New Orleans City Council's Criminal Justice Committee took a step towards holding adults accountable for kids who get their hands on guns.
The ordinance would allow police to arrest and penalize an adult for careless storage of a firearm that results in a minor either causing, or attempting to cause, the injury or death of themselves or another person.
It also penalizes an adult if the child fires the weapon.
If approved by the full council, adults who violate the ordinance would face fines that are $500 or more and at least six months in jail.
This push comes after several children and teenagers have been accidentally hurt or killed with firearms.
Councilmember Eugene Greene, expressed his frustration that 11 teenagers have been killed in New Orleans since the beginning of the year.
“People, separate the right to own a gun, from owning it irresponsibly, and let’s go about the job of saving our young people from any harm whatsoever," Greene said.
Two teenagers who were killed were Warren Easton students who police believe were accidentally shot.
Last week, a toddler was sent to the ICU after he was accidentally shot in the head, police said.
“It is not our intent to put any citizen, any hardworking parent, in jail. It’s to offer a deterrence for them to take that extra step to put their gun away where their kids cannot get a hold of it and prevent another lost life," an NOPD Lieutenant said.
Councilmembers unanimously approved to send the ordinance to a vote by the full council.
City Health Director, Dr. Jennifer Avegno, also spoke before the council.
“It’s just really to put teeth into an existing law," Avegno said.
According to Avegno, Louisiana has the highest rate of accidental shootings of children in the country.
“And they also have the least restrictive gun laws, and those things go in parallel," Dr. Avegno said.
Avegno added that homes that properly secure their guns see an 85% reduction in unintended injury to children and teens compared to homes that do not take those precautions.
The NOPD urged gun owners to use gun locks and unload guns.
"But if you’re going to have one loaded weapon you have to make sure you’re the only one who can get to it," NOPD officials said.
Meanwhile, gun owners like Edward Parker said while they support the ordinance, they also called for additional safety training for gun owners.
“Well, it’s tragic and it should be prevented," Parker said.