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Firearm Safety
Number One Killer: Firearm-related injury has become the leading cause of death for children and adolescents (ages 1-19) in the United States, surpassing motor vehicle crashes in 2020. On average, approximately seven children and adolescents (ages 17 and younger) die by firearm each day.
Risk and Access
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Guns in the Home: An estimated 4.6 million children live in homes with at least one unlocked and loaded firearm in the U.S.
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Accidental vs. Intentional: The majority of child and teen firearm deaths are due to assault or self-harm, with a smaller percentage being accidental, though accidental deaths most often occur in the home, often when the child is playing with or showing the gun to someone else.
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Self-Harm: Death by suicide for children and teens is four times higher in homes with guns compared to homes without. In these cases, 9 out of 10 deaths by suicide are with guns accessed from their own home or a relative's home.
Prevention
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Safe Storage is Key: To prevent unintentional shootings and deaths by suicide, all firearms in the home should be unloaded and locked, with the ammunition stored and locked in a separate location.
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Firearms in Cars: Storing firearms in cars is not safe as cars are one of the most common sources of stolen firearms. Additionally, children, teens or another unauthorized person could access the firearm. If you must store a firearm in a vehicle, use a locked, anchored storage device like a vehicle lockbox and keep the firearm unloaded storing ammunition separately.
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Other homes: 1 in 3 unintentional shootings of children happen in someone else’s home. Whenever your child visits their friend, neighbor, or relative, ask about firearms and safe storage. Be prepared to discuss safe storage or reconsider letting your child visit.
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Education is Not Enough: Many studies show that teaching kids not to touch firearms is ineffective. Children who participate in gun safety programs often ignore what they learned when encountering a real firearm. Safe firearm storage is the best way to protect children.
Our Services
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Community Events: We are available to table at community events.
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Gun Lock Assistance: We have gun locks available free of charge from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Resources
Contact
Contact us to learn more about firearm safety and our injury prevention initiatives, designed to promote responsible practices and enhance community well-being.