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Safety & Prevention

Is There an Unlocked Gun Where Your Child Plays?

Just Ask: Is There an Unlocked Gun Where Your Child Plays? Just Ask: Is There an Unlocked Gun Where Your Child Plays?

​​​A gun, found by a child, can change lives forever in just a few moments. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) reminds families to ask other parents if there is an unlocked gun in the home where their child is going to play.

Making sure guns are stored safely is especially important when school is out, and children are spending more time at home. This means locked and unloaded, with ammunition stored separately​.

    Gun Safety and Children

​About one-third of homes with kids have guns, many left unlocked or loaded. Just talking to your child about the dangers of firearms is not enough. Children are naturally curious. If a gun is accessible in someone's home, there is a good chance a child will find it and play with it. Countless tragedies have occurred when kids found guns that parents thought were well hidden or safely stored.

​The AAP remains committed to reducing gun injuries to children, and advocates for stronger gun laws, comprehensive access to mental health care, and necessary funding for federal gun violence research and prevention efforts.

More Information

Last Updated
6/10/2020
Source
American Academy of Pediatrics (Copyright © 2018)
The information contained on this Web site should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your pediatrician. There may be variations in treatment that your pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances.
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