PHOENIX – Phoenix police are still investigating how a the child took a gun and shot himself on October 19 – it’s a situation a Gilbert family knows all too well.

Child shoots himself in South Phoenix, and another boy is charged in the shooting. It’s one of many accidental shootings that happen every year in Arizona.

Gunshot deaths are the second leading cause of death for children in this state. The the latest numbers from the Arizona Department of Health Services shows that 59 children died this way in 2022.

Christian Petillo’s parents want him to be more than a statistic and are pushing for laws they say will better protect all children.

“Christian was a huge energy,” said Claire Petillo, his mother.

She and Christian’s father, Bruce Petillo, light up when they talk about their son and what made him so special.

“His laugh, his smile, his giggle, they were huge,” Claire said. “Infectious laughter”.

Bruce says, “Christian was a very sensitive soul and a very caring soul.”

Christian was just 15 when he went to a friend’s house in September 2021 for a sleepover. At some point in the night, he was unintentionally shot in the chest by another teenager.

“They took him into emergency surgery but they were preparing us for the worst at the time. I remember being in the chapel and begging God not to take him and unfortunately that wasn’t the case happened,” said Bruce.

It didn’t take long after Christian’s death for Petillos to turn his grief into action.

Bruce, Christian and Claire Petillo

They began advocating for stricter gun laws, spending the last few years getting Christian’s Law passed in Arizona.

The bill would require gun owners to secure their firearms and keep them out of the hands of children.

Arizona State Representative Nancy Gutierrez, the most recent author of the bill, says it aims to protect families and not take away any rights.

“Gun safes are expensive. Gun locks are not. So it’s such a simple thing to do, and it’s absolutely proven to prevent accidental gunshot deaths. I don’t know how that would infringe on anyone’s right to bear arms. ,” Rep. Gutierrez said.

The Petillos say shootings like the most recent one involving the three-year-old boy could be prevented.

“Every time I hear a story like this, my heart goes out to the parents. Mainly the mum, because just the feeling of knowing your child is hurt is so frustrating,” Claire said.

“We know that Christian’s death was preventable. We know that the child who was shot a week and a half ago, his injury was preventable. We know this will continue to happen again and again and again unless something is done.” Bruce said.

The Petillos said the latest version of Christian’s Law will be introduced in the January legislative session, but they will head to Washington DC in December to advocate for a national gun safety bill.

In last week’s case involving the toddler, police have yet to say how the accused child got the gun. FOX 10 has asked Phoenix police multiple times if they have determined who had the gun and how it ended up in the hands of a young child, and there is still no answer.