Gun control and gun violence are hot-button issues in the United States right now. Things have gotten totally out of control, and thousands lose their lives or face serious injury every year. Gun owners certainly have rights protected by the US Constitution, but rights don’t equal responsible ownership. Having guns safely stored and locked is just common sense, particularly when adult gun owners have children in their homes. Yet we see tragic stories of innocent lives lost because of guns daily.
Alabama Republican lawmaker and gun rights advocate Ernie Yarbrough could have lost his 13-year-old son after his 6-year-old accidentally shot him. Shockingly, he played it off like nothing.
The shooting reportedly happened in the family’s home.
Per the Times Daily, the shooting occurred at the family’s Lawrence County residence on March 21, 2026. Yarbrough’s 6-year-old son somehow got hold of a .556-caliber AR-style rifle. The 13-year-old received a gunshot wound to the shoulder that required medical attention.
“The child found a gun in the bedroom and accidentally shot his brother,” Lawrence County Chief Deputy Brian Covington told the news outlet.
Yarbrough seemingly downplayed the incident.
The Republican state representative told the Alabama Daily News via text message that his teenage son only had a “flesh wound.” Yarbrough insisted life was back to normal at the family’s home a short time later.
“Thanks be to God, all is well. A flesh wound only. He has been playing basketball with me tonight,” Yarbrough shared.
A gun lock likely could have prevented the shooting.
Shane Kyker, a representative from the Madison Police Department in Alabama, told WAFF that authorities are trying to prevent such incidents in their precinct.
“Project Child Safe is, it’s a national company that they work on donations, and they’ll supply law enforcement and other agencies with gun locks for free to them to give out to their citizens,” Kyker said.
Kyker added that gun locks are available at any time, day or night. “We don’t want these guns getting in the hands of the people that don’t need them or curious kids. You know, kids are curious and have a firearm laying around the house or something, and we don’t need any kind of accidental discharge or somebody getting, you know, unnecessarily hurt by mishandling a firearm,” Kyker shared, per WAFF.
Yarbrough remains outspoken about gun control.
Yarbrough sponsored a 2025 bill to prevent a red flag law in Alabama.
“Under existing law, a public official or employee is prohibited from enforcing any executive order issued by the President of the United States which restricts the use, ownership, or possession of firearms and related accessories,” the bill states. “This bill would prohibit any state agency, state or local law enforcement agency, or political subdivision from enforcing any red flag law in this state. This bill would provide a cause of action for the enforcement of a red flag law.”
This is one lucky family. What does Yarbrough not understand about keeping his kids safe from guns? If you want them, OK, that’s your right. But you have to be smart and lock up your weapons. We guarantee you’d never forgive yourself if something happened to a loved one because of your negligence.
