A study published in JAMA Network Open estimates that 32 million children in the United States live in homes with firearms, and nearly 7 million of those children have at least one gun in the household that is both unlocked and loaded.
Key Details
- Researchers surveyed nearly 900 gun-owning parents of children under 18.
- 35% stored firearms unloaded and locked—the safest method.
- 21% kept at least one firearm unlocked and loaded, corresponding to about 7 million children nationally.
- Parents of children under 13 were more likely to store guns safely than parents of teenagers.
Background
Since 2020, firearms have been the leading cause of death among children and teens in the U.S. A significant percentage of these deaths are suicides.
Study lead author Dr. Matthew Miller of Northeastern University stated that in youth suicides, the gun almost always comes from the home, usually owned by a parent. He noted that safe storage reduces the risk of firearm suicide by threefold.
"In youth suicides, the gun almost always comes from the home, usually owned by a parent." — Dr. Matthew Miller
Dr. Chethan Sathya of Northwell Health commented that many families do not recognize the risk of an unlocked gun. He also noted that unsafe storage increases risk of unintentional injuries and mass shootings, as mass shooters often obtain weapons from parents without their knowledge.
Interventions
Northwell Health screens all patients for gun violence risk and offers counseling on safe storage. They report that over 200,000 such conversations have led many families to store guns more safely. Dr. Sathya advocates for modern safe storage technologies such as smart guns and biometric safes.
Helpline
Anyone in crisis can call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.