A LEGISLATOR is seeking stiffer penalties against irresponsible gun owners who place children’s lives in grave danger because of negligence.

Lakas-Kampi-CMD Rep. Carmelo Lazatin of Pampanga said House Bill 5357, or the Safe Gun Act of 2011, seeks to heavily punish firearms owners whose negligence resulted in the injury and death of children.

Also, the bill proposes to penalize gun manufacturers who fail to put safety devices in firearms that would prevent children from accidentally discharging them.

Lazatin said he was prompted to file the measure amid the number of killings involving minors in the country.

“Negligence and laxity on the part of gun owners and gun manufacturers have put children’s lives in grave danger,” Lazatin said.

He said wanton disregard of loaded weapons sometimes leads to injuries and even death of minors.

“The approval of this measure will help put a stop to this irresponsibility,” Lazatin stressed.

As embodied in the bill, it shall be unlawful for a person to leave a loaded firearm within reach of children.

The measure also prohibits the manufacture, sale or importation of a firearm that does not have as an integral part a device or devices that will prevent a child of less than seven years of age from discharging the firearm by reason of the amount of strength, dexterity, cognitive skill, or other ability required to cause a discharge.

The bill provides a penalty of P500,000 or imprisonment of prison mayor without parole to the manufacturer who causes injury or death of a child through accidental firing.

The gun owner who, if found to be negligent, will be penalized with imprisonment of three months and a fine of P50,000 or both.

If the neglected firearm caused the injury or death of a child through accidental firing, the owner shall be penalized with a fine of P500,000 and imprisonment of prison mayor without parole.

“It is the State’s policy to reduce injuries and deaths caused by firearms to children. The State shall guarantee the safety of children from irresponsible gun owners and the production of child-proof safety firearms or devices,” Lazatin said.