Well, perhaps the simple answer to that is to compare states and jurisdictions that have strict licensing already to those who don't. My admittedly-incomplete knowledge of the stats on that specific question appears to indicate that it makes very little, if any, difference. The largest category of firearms accidents involving death or serious injury is accidents in the field while hunting; I believe the second largest is "someone who shouldn't have had access to the firearm found it and did something stupid". Sadly, there's always the occasional one like the recent accidentcriminal negligence at a range open-day in Massachusetts. (I don't know whether the "instructor" in question is being charged with criminal negligence, but if not, in MA even, I damn well want to know why not, because he should be.)
Now that said, I would be in favor of a law requiring that if you have a firearm insecurely stored (i.e, stored somewhere unlocked and either loaded or with ammunition ready to hand) where it's accessible to a minor, and a minor finds it and has an accident that wounds or kills someone, you should be liable. Because you should have damned well known better than to leave an unsecured, loaded-or-readily-loadable firearm around somewhere a minor whom you hadn't already taught to handle it safely could find it. And this means even if your own kids are trained and know what they're doing, when the neighbor's kids come over to play, or if you go out and the neighbor's kids might come over to play, secure any unattended firearms. If you're leaving a kid at home who's old enough to be left home alone, make sure the kid's properly trained and knows how to get to the secured gun if it becomes necessary. One set of Merced pitchfork murders (http://www.lewrockwell.com/poe/poe1.html) was one too many.
Re: (part 2 of 2)
accidentcriminal negligence at a range open-day in Massachusetts. (I don't know whether the "instructor" in question is being charged with criminal negligence, but if not, in MA even, I damn well want to know why not, because he should be.)Now that said, I would be in favor of a law requiring that if you have a firearm insecurely stored (i.e, stored somewhere unlocked and either loaded or with ammunition ready to hand) where it's accessible to a minor, and a minor finds it and has an accident that wounds or kills someone, you should be liable. Because you should have damned well known better than to leave an unsecured, loaded-or-readily-loadable firearm around somewhere a minor whom you hadn't already taught to handle it safely could find it. And this means even if your own kids are trained and know what they're doing, when the neighbor's kids come over to play, or if you go out and the neighbor's kids might come over to play, secure any unattended firearms. If you're leaving a kid at home who's old enough to be left home alone, make sure the kid's properly trained and knows how to get to the secured gun if it becomes necessary. One set of Merced pitchfork murders (http://www.lewrockwell.com/poe/poe1.html) was one too many.