Tuesday's tragedy, in which a 2-year-old boy fatally shot his 29-year-old mother in the Hayden Walmart, generated an outpouring of sympathy, support and, sadly, ridicule. Yet another chapter in the ongoing Second Amendment debate has officially started, but at the moment, we don't care about that.

Our hearts go out to every member of the Rutledge family of Blackfoot, Idaho, none more than the toddler who innocently pulled the trigger that ended his mother's life. We can't imagine what his future will look like, no matter how much he's reminded that this was simply a horrific accident that would never have happened had an adult ensured the pistol in her purse did not have a round in the chamber, and that the safety was on.

Because it is so difficult to accept that terrible things can happen to good people, we look instead toward some kind of silver lining. It is the hope that this accident - involving a vibrant, intelligent young woman who apparently was highly skilled and generally extremely conscientious about gun use and safety - will lead to the prevention of future tragedies.

Please, if you're going to own a gun, know how to use it - and follow strict safety protocol when it's not in use. Superb training is available at Center Target Sports in Post Falls, and elsewhere. Avail yourself of it. Become an expert. If you're looking for a truly important New Year's resolution, gun owners getting gun safety training and refresher courses should be atop those lists.

As we've all been sadly reminded, this goes far beyond the issue of having the right to bear arms. For gun owners, it's about education and the very highest level of responsibility, with the potential for tragic consequences that can last generations.