Take these five simple steps to help prevent gun violence and promote responsible gun ownership
Secure
- Thirteen million households with children contain at least one gun.
- Studies have found that the majority of children in gun-owning households knew where the gun was stored.
- Assume children and teens can find guns. Store firearms locked, with a specific locking device, unloaded and separate from ammunition.
Model Responsible Behavior
- It is always an adult’s responsibility to prevent unauthorized access to guns.
- Make gun safety a part of normal conversations you have with your children.
- Keep the language simple; for example: “If you see a gun, don’t touch it. Tell an adult right away.”
Ask About Unsecured Guns in Other Homes
- More than 4 million U.S. children live in a household with at least one loaded, unlocked gun.
- When sending your child to the home of a friend or neighbor, ask about unsecured guns, as you would any other safety topic.
Recognize The Role of Guns In Suicide
- 90% of suicide attempts with a gun result in death; a much higher fatality rate than any other means of self-harm.
- A survey of high school students found that 20% had seriously considered attempting suicide within the last year.
- One study showed that 41% of adolescents in gun-owning households report having ”easy access” to the guns in their homes.
Tell Everyone You Know to be SMART
- Text SMART to 64433 to learn more.
- Share Be SMART with your community.
This information was obtained from BeSMARTforKids.org.