NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Disturbing data point to guns as being the leading cause of death for children in Tennessee for the second year in a row . Following the death of an 8-year-old, some democratic lawmakers have been working to get legislation passed to prevent these types of incidents.
Nearly eight years after first being introduced, Democratic lawmakers are still working to get “MaKayla’s law” passed. Sen. Heidi Campbell (D-Nashville) is carrying the bill currently. Originally introduced in 2016, the legislation would mean more consequences for gun owners who leave a firearm loaded and accessible to a child. It would be a Class E felony if someone was injured and a Class C felony if someone was killed, which comes with the possibility of 15 years in prison.
“This is about responsibility. It’s about consequences for a parent’s irresponsible choice,” said Campbell. “If you are going to have a gun to protect yourself, then you need to make sure that you’re putting it in a place where a child cannot get a hold of it and kill themselves or another child or an adult.”