Sheriff Rogers issues dire warning on gun safety
The death of a child is already a tragedy, but when the loss might have been preventable the heartbreak is compounded. In a few short weeks, two children were able to access loaded guns in the community and a three year old lost his life. This incident has not only caused the community to grieve but also sparked a vital conversation about the measures needed to avert similar occurrences in the future.
Lenoir County Sheriff Jackie Rogers, in an exclusive interview with Neuse News said, “Put your firearms away in a safe location. If you have a child that is walking around, you shouldn’t have that gun where he can look at it or access it. It’s a tragic accident and I never want to see it again.”
The sheriff supports gun ownership, but stressed the importance of keeping guns away from children.
Rogers stated, "I'm supportive of the Second Amendment. What I’m not supportive of are gun owners that are not responsible enough to secure their firearms from children."
He shared that most firearms used in shootings in cities and counties are from unlocked vehicles.
“Most of these firearms are coming from unlocked vehicles that juveniles are stealing from and commiting crimes,” said Rogers.
The sheriff also discussed the tragic consequences of children accessing unsecured firearms, citing his own practice of safely storing firearms at home. "Being a lawful gun owner, we have responsibilities, and one of those responsibilities is storing our firearms safely, especially when you got small kids," he said.
Rogers believes that gun safety education is crucial, especially for younger children. His office plans to work with the school system to educate students about the dangers of firearms. "I think they should know that a real gun can kill you," he explained.
Rogers addressed the role of his office in promoting gun safety in the community. He plans to be proactive in reminding the public about gun laws and proper storage of firearms.
“The Sheriff's Office should be more public and have routine reminders of what the gun laws are, what how storage of firearms should be, and I will be very proactive about that,” said Rogers.