I’m sure any reader would be horrified to learn that the daycare that they entrust with their young children’s safety was concealing firearms on the property. You would immediately pull your children out of daycare and report the whole business to the state.

Why then, are we allowing firearms to be stored in family childcare homes, which are very similar to in-home daycares, without notice to the caregivers so they can make an informed decision on whether to place their child in this home? This is why I am writing in support of Committee Bill 6180.  

Firearms in the home are a documented danger to children. Children younger than 5 years old are the second most likely age group to accidentally shoot themselves. Children are naturally curious and do not understand the gravity of playing with firearms. This risk is compounded when children are grouped together in an informal setting like a family childcare home.

Around half of all accidental firearm deaths of children between 2001 and 2021 occurred in their home, whether by playing with the gun or showing it off to other children. Guns can also accidentally fire when stored improperly, potentially injuring those in the area. Research shows that, while children may be safer when unloaded guns are securely stored with ammunition sheltered separately, children are safest when all firearms are stored outside of the home.  

Dissenters may argue that these regulations encroach upon the homeowner’s privacy and their Second Amendment rights. These concerns have merit but, in policy, a balance must be negotiated between the homeowner’s individual rights and the children’s rights to a safe and secure place of education. I support this law because it ensures that caregivers are not unknowingly placing their children into a dangerous situation that could end their life. Caregivers have a right to know that the safety of their child is prioritized. I also support the subsection that allows the Office of Early Childhood to revoke the license of any business found in violation of this requirement.

However, my only recommendation would be that firearms should not be stored in a residence that is licensed by the state as a family child care home. I think that the license revocation should also apply if the homeowners do not remove the firearms from the residence. If this cannot be achieved, the caregivers should be given more information as to the state of the firearm storage in the home, rather than simply whether or not firearms are present. Parents would not tolerate the presence of guns in a school or a commercial daycare. The same protections should be extended to licensed family child care homes so that parents can send their children to daycare knowing their safety is ensured.

Cassidy Irwin is a junior pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Health Sciences and Political Science at Eastern Connecticut State University.