According to the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions Annual Firearm Mortality Report, over the past four years, firearms have been the leading cause of death for young people ages 1 to 17, accounting for more deaths than car crashes, overdoses or cancers. Per data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, roughly one-half of firearm deaths among children and teens occur at home.
Kids tend to be naturally curious, so if they find a gun, they may try to see how it works or want to show it to a friend. In addition, because their brains—especially the areas responsible for self-control and decision-making—are still developing, children and teenagers can be impulsive. If they’re sad or angry, they could use a gun on another person or themselves without thinking through the potential consequences.
There’s a critical difference between hiding a gun and securing it safely. A study by the National Library of Medicine reported that while 70% of parents believed their child couldn’t access a gun, 22% of children in those households said they could access one within five minutes.
Keeping kids safe from gun violence takes a village. That’s why RWJBarnabas Health (RWJBH) has partnered with 15 other hospitals and healthcare organizations in Agree to Agree, a nationwide initiative aimed at reducing youth gun injuries.
“We encourage doctors, community members, gun owners and non-gun owners to engage in respectful conversations about gun safety,” says Mark E. Manigan, president and chief executive officer of RWJBarnabas Health. “Together, we can create a future where no child dies from a preventable firearm injury.”
Older Adults and Gun Safety
For older adults who don’t have kids at home, it’s still important to secure firearms. In addition to protecting young visitors, it reduces the risk of self-harm and suicide, especially among those with depression, cognitive decline or other aging-related conditions. According to JAMA Network, from 2014 to 2023, firearms were the No. 1 method of suicide for adults ages 65 and up.
Older gun owners also should think ahead to a time when illness, medication or the natural process of aging may make it unsafe to use a firearm. A Firearm Life Plan is a practical worksheet that helps adults decide what should happen to their guns and when, before that moment arrives.
Safe Storage Tips
If you have firearms at home, take these steps to keep yourself and your family safe:
- Keep guns unloaded, and store guns and ammunition in separate places.
- Lock all guns in a gun safe or cabinet protected by a keypad, combination lock or biometric security (such as a fingerprint).
- Use safety devices, such as trigger locks or cable locks, to prevent firearms from being fired.
- Consider storing firearms outside your home at a gun storage facility, local shooting range or gun shop to keep them out of children's reach.
- If anyone in your household suffers from depression or is at increased risk of suicide, remove firearms from the home entirely.
