Keep Children Safe Around Guns

Did you know that roughly a third of U.S. homes with children have guns? In fact, an estimated 4.6 million kids live with unlocked, loaded guns. That’s a scary statistic when you think about the fact that even young toddlers are capable of finding unlocked guns in the home, and they are strong enough to pull the trigger.

As a parent, you may not realize what a serious risk a gun in the home is, especially for children. Firearms are now the leading cause of death for U.S. children and teens under the age of 18. And the reality is that having firearms in the home increases the risk of unintentional shootings, suicide and homicide. Learn how to keep your child safe.

THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO KEEP KIDS SAFE

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the safest home for a child is one without guns. The most effective way to prevent unintentional gun injuries, suicide and homicide to children and adolescents, research shows, is the absence of guns from homes and communities.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU KEEP A GUN IN YOUR HOME

f you decide to keep guns in the home, be aware that many studies show that teaching kids about gun safety, or to not touch a firearm if they find one, is not enough. You can reduce the chances of children being injured, however, by following important safety rules.

MISSOURI HAS THE SEVENTH HIGHEST RATE OF GUN DEATHS IN THE U.S. and is missing all of the foundational gun safety laws including a secure gun storage law, requiring background checks for all firearm sales and requiring a permit to carry concealed firearms in public. The state also lacks a law requiring gun owners to securely store their firearms.

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SAFE GUN STORAGE

All guns in your home should be locked and unloaded, with ammunition locked separately. Make sure children and teens can’t access the keys or combinations to lock boxes or gun safes. And remember not to keep loaded, unlocked guns in the car, or anywhere else on your property.