A Near Death Experience
THAT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED

I am Shirley Lochowitz; I am a homemaker and professional advocate. I was a sworn Police Officer from the Caledonia, Wisconsin Police Department. My husband is still a sworn Police Officer. On August 10, 1995 while working 2nd shift, I was assisting another Officer at the Police Department on a drunk driving arrest. A shooting call came in and I told the dispatcher I was responding, as the call was in my area. While on my way to the call I suddenly learned that the 12 year old boy, the shooting victim, was my son. My son's 14 year old friend had been playing with his .22 rifle and had shot my son in the stomach. The boy was permitted by his father, a prominent attorney, to keep his loaded .22 rifle under his bed, thinking,  like so many other adults do . . . that "nothing" will happen. It was this type of thinking that almost cost my son his life.

I was the first one to arrive. I found my son sitting at the top of the basement stairs. He tried to reassure me. "Mom, I am ok" . . . but I knew he was not. My son was dying in front of my eyes. He was rushed to the hospital where he underwent 4-1/2 hours of emergency surgery. He was given a 50% chance of living. While our family has been blessed, our son survived, many others don't.

That was my last day in police work after almost 14 years. I have now dedicated myself to sharing our story and educating other about storing guns safely in the home. These types of injuries and deaths are totally preventable . . . but people need to hear these types of stories to know that it can happen to them, if they, or someone they know, keeps a loaded gun where children can have access to it.

I have been speaking out on this issue for several years, and while I know it is not a popular subject, I feel was given to me for a reason. So I must continue to push forward.

I want to thank you so much for taking the time to read this. I am hoping in my heart that something good will come from all this. If you, or someone you know, needs information about safe gun storage, please contact us. We can help you avoid having this tragic story repeated in your family .