I think the "people shouldn't own guns", etc. arguments are missing the point. A gun is a dangerous and powerful device, and people should take them more seriously. But it's not a lot different than owning a chainsaw, hand-held power tools, knives, electric outlets, etc. If used/stored/exposed improperly, they're extremely dangerous. If used properly, they serve a purpose. I'm sure if the father had left a loaded nail-gun plugged in and sitting on the kitchen table and the girl had accidentally shot herself through the eye (which is usually fatal), posters wouldn't be going on about how we shouldn't allow people to own nail-guns. Or maybe they would, but that would be silly... nail-guns are very useful tools. No, I'm guessing in the case of a nail-gun, almost everyone would be commenting on how foolish the father was for leaving such a dangerous device within easy access of a small child. But because it's a hand-gun, the rules all change and we focus on why guns are "bad" devices to own.
It's very sad that this dad (and mom) actually left a loaded, un-safetied handgun lying on the kitchen table with a 3 year old running around the house. I have a strong suspicion that there's more to this story than meets the eye. Something is wrong with this picture. I'm guessing alcohol abuse was a factor. That's why people shouldn't be allowed to drink alcohol. They might run over their kids with the car by accident, or beat their spouses, or do some other foolish thing while intoxicated, so we should protect them and those around them by not allowing them to own/use alcoholic beverages. Driving cars can be very dangerous to the public at large if not done properly, so we shouldn't allow that either.
See... I just solved two other social ills by making sure the foolish masses have no access to anything that can be used to hurt themselves or their families or friends.
Hello Mr. Orwell. 
