The news that a 2½-year-old boy accidentally shot himself in the head with a 9 mm handgun while visiting his grandfather is damn sad ("Toddler dies after accidentally shooting himself in head," Tribune, July 18). The grandfather will live with regret about not securing the gun for the rest of his life.

Utah should pass a law that if there are children under 18 in a house, handguns must be secured under lock and key. If they're not, and they're used in an incident like this, you spend a year in prison. Period.

And if your son tells you that his playmate's father down the street has accessible handguns in his house, you should be able to report that to the police who would check it out. Violators should face a $10,000 fine and confiscation of the handgun.

Adults have a right to own a gun. They don't have a right to leave it out where teens and children have access to it.

Tony Samuel

Salt Lake City