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No parent in his or her right mind would allow a child to play with a chainsaw or a blowtorch. Even the thought of allowing children access to dangerous tools like those or others is ridiculous.
But some parents and guardians of young children continue to leave guns within easy access of those they are supposed to protect. We read about the bloody results of that carelessness or indifference or watch it on TV all too often.
On Aug. 15, 2025 -- almost exactly one year ago -- a 3-year-old boy in Struthers died when he got his hands on an unsecured handgun and accidentally shot himself. The boy's distraught father told investigators he had left the weapon on a waist-high bedroom dresser while he used a nearby bathroom. The man faces involuntary manslaughter charges. A trial is scheduled for Oct. 19.
Less than two weeks ago, it happened again.
On Aug. 10, another Mahoning Valley child was found shot in a bedroom of a home on Youngstown's near West Side. Youngstown Police Department officers attempted life-saving measures, but the 6-year-old boy was later pronounced dead at St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital, according to a YPD press release issued the next day.
Police did not say how the boy was shot, but they did "urge gun owners to safely and responsibly store their firearms and other weapons." The release stated police "will be having a discussion with the public related to that in the near future."
The release added that "The safety and security of our children is of utmost importance to the Police Department and City of Youngstown."
Police gave no additional details about the shooting but that "the investigation is underway."
If this turns out to be a case of a child getting hold of a gun, it will be about the fourth one in recent years in the Youngstown area, according to a story in the Aug. 11 edition of this newspaper.
In addition to the 2025 Struthers incident, two fatal shootings involving children happened three years ago on Youngstown's South Side.
On Oct. 22, 2023, a 7-year-old boy died after he and his brother got hold of a gun that his mother attempted to hide on the mantle at their house on Marmion Avenue on Youngstown's South Side. The boys were playing with the gun in a bedroom when it went off, striking the boy.
The boy's mother was indicted on involuntary manslaughter and other charges, but a jury in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court found her not guilty of that and four other charges.
On Nov. 11, 2023, a 14-year-old was shot and killed in the home of a 14-year-old neighbor/friend.
The neighbor was found delinquent -- the juvenile equivalent of guilty -- of reckless homicide with a three-year gun specification and could remain in a state juvenile facility until he turns 21. His case was heard in juvenile court.
Similar cases happen in other places across Ohio and the nation every year. These deaths are tragic and wholly unnecessary. No child should be able to access guns. An unloaded firearm -- properly secured and locked away from children who do not understand what it can do -- will not harm anyone.
And yet, these tragedies continue to happen. A year ago in this space, we noted three bills introduced in the Ohio Legislature that their sponsors believe can save children's lives. They were:
• House Bill 358, the Safe Firearm Storage Education Act, sponsored by Rep. Tex Fischer, R-Boardman, and co-sponsored by Rep. Lauren McNally, D-Youngstown. The bill directs state agencies to distribute multilingual firearm safety materials through schools and public spaces.
• House Bill 120, which would eliminate state sales taxes on safe firearm and storage devices. McNally was a co-sponsor.
• House Bill 235, which would provide tax credits to Ohioans who complete firearm safety training or who purchase secure storage devices. McNally co-sponsored that bill as well.
Sadly, those bills were referred to committees and state lawmakers haven't pushed them forward in the last year. Now another child is dead and another family grieves after what might have been another preventable tragedy.
When will this carnage in homes -- where children should be safe and protected -- finally stop?