TAMPA, FLORIDA — As gun owners, we all have a responsibility to ensure that our firearms are kept out of reach of children. Unfortunately, this responsibility was not met in a recent incident in Florida, where a loaded handgun was discovered in the backpack of a first-grader at Meadowbrook Elementary School.

The details of the incident are shocking. The child had not brought a backpack to school in months, but after the teacher asked the parent to make sure their child brought one, the mother instructed her child to pick a bag out of the trunk of her car. Unbeknownst to both the mother and the child, a family member had placed the loaded handgun, which had been stored in the car’s glove compartment, inside the backpack.

This incident could have had a tragic outcome. It’s a stark reminder of the importance of safe and responsible gun ownership. As gun owners, we must do everything in our power to keep our firearms out of the hands of children, to store those firearms properly, and to always know where our firearms are located.

Remember, responsible gun ownership isn’t just a good idea, it’s a legal requirement. By taking the necessary precautions, we can help prevent tragedy. Luckily, this one didn’t end badly, but it was one move away from doing so.

Let’s do our part to keep our communities safe.