Today, nearly 2 million kids nationwide live in homes with unlocked, loaded guns, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Not to mention, gun sales have increased amid the recent COVID-19 pandemic.
There’s no doubt gun safety is paramount — perhaps now more than ever.
Parents may not realize the risk of serious injury a gun poses in the home. According to the AAP:
- Even young toddlers are capable of finding unlocked guns in the home and children as young as 3 are strong enough to pull the trigger.
- Adolescents are at a higher risk for suicide when there is a gun in the home.
- A gun kept in the home triples the risk of homicide.
- A gun kept in the home is 43 times more likely to kill someone known to the family than a burglar or other criminal.
The best way to prevent gun-related injuries is to remove the gun from your home altogether. However, if that’s not an option, follow these 7 gun-safety guidelines to keep your kids and family safe from harm.