In America, guns are the number one killer of children and teenagers, surpassing both car accidents and disease. Unfortunately, this tragic reality is not a surprise to gun safety advocates that have been warning about the effects of gun violence on our children for years. As a volunteer with Moms Demand Action, I have worked to safeguard our children and communities and protect them from senseless acts of gun violence by raising awareness about common-sense solutions. And no solution is as effective and easy as secure gun storage.
When firearms are not properly stored, tragedy can strike. From a child finding a firearm and injuring or killing themselves, or someone stealing it and using it to commit crime, secure gun storage can prevent both. As adults, we’re responsible for keeping our kids safe. That’s why it is crucial for us to ask other adults if they own guns and how they’re stored when our children visit their homes or ride in their cars.
Research shows that on average, every year, 350 children living in America under the age of 18 gain access to a firearm and unintentionally shoot themselves or someone else, like a sibling, parent, or friend. Between 2015 and 2024, Everytown for Gun Safety’s #NotAnAccident Index documented over 3,200 instances of unintentional shootings involving children, leading to the deaths of over 1,200 individuals and injuries to more than 2,000 others.
In the state of California in 2020, 45% of deaths by suicide were with firearms. If access to a firearm is delayed by the firearm being in a safe, with a 988 crisis line sticker on the safe, some of the 1,552 deaths may have been prevented. By delaying access to means by about 15 minutes – firearms, pills, fencing on bridges – the risk for death by suicide is much lower. Gun safes and firearm storage away from homes are both well research supported deterrents to firearm deaths.
To address this risk, Moms Demand Action volunteers in California and across the nation advocate for the Be SMART program to reduce the number of shootings and deaths by suicide that occur when guns are not stored securely. Be SMART was created to promote responsible gun ownership to reduce the death, injury, and trauma that can occur when a child gains access to a gun. The program emphasizes that unintentional shootings by children — and other forms of gun violence, like gun suicide and school shootings — can help be prevented by storing guns unloaded, locked, and separate from ammunition. Parents and caregivers, gun owners and non-gun owners alike, can protect the kids in their lives and their communities by taking these simple steps:
- Secure all guns in homes and vehicles.
- Model responsible behavior around guns.
- Ask about the presence of unsecured firearms in other homes your child visits.
- Recognize the role of guns in suicide.
- Tell your peers to Be SMART.
This is an issue we all need to worry about, because whether it’s your gun or not, it could be your child. That’s why it’s so important to normalize asking other parents about guns and secure storage wherever kids may be present, whether it’s in the home or in a vehicle.
Taking steps to securely store firearms will give us peace of mind that we are doing our part and doing what’s right to protect our loved ones, ensuring a safer environment for our communities. Learn more at BeSMARTforKids.org.
The Wellness & Prevention Center offers free Counseling On Access to Lethal Means (CALM) training. CALM provides trainees with a basic understanding of signs that indicate a risk for suicide. Additioanlly, participants learn how to start a conversation about safe storage of firearms and medications for anyone that is at risk for suicide. Contact info@wpc-oc.org for more information