Although it is a terrible tragedy when a child dies in an accident, that does not justify falsifying statistics to concoct an argument for banning handguns. Fatal gun accidents are largely attributable to gun possession among the same kinds of irresponsible aberrant adults who commit murders. When compared to cars (which take 190 times as many lives), handguns are simple mechanisms that are entirely safe for any owner who is responsible enough to observe elementary precautions. Empirical studies show that a gun becomes involved in a fatal accident through misuse. Unlike the average gun owner, those who cause such accidents are disproportionately involved in other accidents, violent crime, and heavy drinking. If their backgrounds of serious felonies, substance abuse, automobile and other dangerous accidents are examined, the question about these reckless or irresponsible people is not whether they will kill themselves or others, but when. Indeed, a large portion of child gun accidents may be attributable to those irresponsible people who leave loaded guns unsecured. 11 notes