In Waverly, Ohio, a Walmart store became the scene of a gun safety concern when a two-year-old boy fired a gun.

On the morning of November 16, 2022, the young child accidentally fired his mother’s Taurus 9mm handgun inside the retail store. The Waverly Police Department stated that the boy found the gun in his mother’s purse and discharged it, causing a bullet to hit the store’s ceiling.

The child sustained a minor forehead injury from the gun’s magazine, according to police reports. His mother, who remains unnamed, was arrested and charged with child endangerment by Pike County Court.

Following the incident, the toddler was entrusted to a guardian’s care and received medical attention.

This incident underscores the need for responsible gun ownership and secure firearm storage, particularly in households with young children. The Waverly Police Department highlighted the importance of these precautions in a public statement, emphasizing the need for vigilance and proper safety protocols in gun storage.

Data reveals a worrying trend: around 4.6 million American children reside in homes with at least one unlocked and loaded firearm. Each year, nearly 350 children accidentally shoot themselves or others using firearms found in their or their friends’ homes. Firearms are also frequently used in child suicides and school shootings.

Groups like Project ChildSafe champion the cause of safe gun storage, promoting the use of locked safes, cabinets, or vaults and separate ammunition storage. They also endorse the use of cable-style gun locks to prevent accidental shootings and protect children.