BATON ROUGE — Earlier this month, 13-year-old Joshua Ortega was killed in an accidental shooting when he and two other teenagers were taking pictures and handling a handgun.

He is not alone. This year in East Baton Rouge Parish, five juveniles ages 17 and younger have died from negligent or accidental shootings.

"They shouldn't know what a gun feels like, what a gun looks like, or what it is," one resident said. "If your name is registered to that gun, put that gun away."

Residents say parents and gun owners must do more to keep firearms out of children's reach. David Groce, owner of P&D Concealed Carry and Gun Shop, said hiding a weapon is simply not enough.

"I've had customers tell me, 'Oh, we hide our guns,'" Groce said. "Hiding is not security because kids, they don't know what you get them for Christmas either, right? But they'll find those guns. They know you got the guns. So you got to, number one, you got to educate that child."

Groce said gun owners should never leave firearms where children can access them. For concealed carry permit holders, he said the rule is straightforward: the weapon must be on your person or locked away.

To help local families secure their homes, Groce's shop provides free gun locks to anyone who needs them. The business also offers children's gun safety classes and first-aid training.

East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney Hillar Moore emphasized that responsible gun ownership starts with proper storage.

"Responsible gun ownership is the number one priority when you do have a weapon, regardless of how you will receive that weapon," Moore said. "If you do not secure that weapon and there are children around, it's just like having a swimming pool without a fence around it. A child's going to find that gun."

According to the New England Journal of Medicine, firearm deaths among youth nationwide rose 3.9% from 2020 to 2023. Moore noted that firearms have surpassed vehicle crashes as the leading cause of death for juveniles.

"Since 2020, motor vehicle deaths have been the number one cause of death for juveniles," Moore said. "But as of that year, firearms surpassed motor vehicle deaths."