This week, a first-time mother wrote into the famous "Dear Abby" column looking for advice on gun safety for her daughter. She wanted to know how to politely ask other parents if they keep guns before letting her daughter play at their home. Abby's response? Don’t ask because it may be "off-putting" to the parents.
Please sign this petition demanding that Abby apologize for this misguided advice and re-address her answer in a more responsible way that takes into consideration the very real problem of gun safety in the United States. A
new CDC report confirms that
guns are the third-leading cause of death for children between the ages of one and 17.
Nearly 1,300 youths die due to guns every year, while another 5,790 suffer gunshot wounds. That means that
roughly 19 children are shot every day.
Over half of these deaths are homicides, and 38 percent are suicides. The remainder are accidents. Gun-related accidents and deaths are a serious problem in the United States for both children and adults. The mother who wrote to Dear Abby is right to be concerned about whether guns are kept in homes that her child visits.
Instead of asking other parents whether or not they have guns at home, Abby suggested the mother host playdates at her own house only. This is unrealistic and unhelpful advice. Playing at friends’ houses is a normal part of childhood, and this mother is trying to find a way to let her daughter do so in a way she’s comfortable with.
Please sign this petition demanding that Abby apologize for giving such ill-advised advice and issue a more thoughtful response based on the reality of child gun deaths in the U.S.