Debunking Gun Myths at the Dinner Table

Laws like background checks stop gun sales to criminals every day. Since 1994, these laws have blocked more than 4 million gun sales to people who could not legally own guns.

People with guns kill people, and more efficiently than people without guns. The U.S. gun homicide rate is 26x higher than that of other high-income countries.

Federal law does not prohibit current or recent former dating partners subject to a domestic violence restraining order from purchasing or possessing guns.

Chicago proves why we must push for strong federal gun laws. Many of the crime guns recovered in Chicago and in other cities in states with strong gun violence prevention laws can be traced back to states with weaker gun laws.

Every year, hundreds of children age 17 and under gain access to a gun and unintentionally shoot themselves or someone else—sometimes fatally. Nearly one in three of these shooters are ages five and younger.

If more guns everywhere made us safer, America would be the safest country on earth. Instead, we have a gun homicide rate 26x that of other high-income countries.

Arming teachers ignores research that shows the presence of a gun increases the risks posed to children and teachers.  School safety experts and law enforcement oppose arming teachers.

4.6 million U.S. children live in a household with at least one loaded, unsecured gun. Children and teens access guns in homes other than their own.

Guns in the home increase the risk that anyone in the house, including children, will die by firearm suicide or unintentional injuries. And, domestic abusers with access to a gun are 5 times more likely to kill their female victims.

Federal law only requires licensed dealers to perform background checks. That means that millions of guns are bought and sold by unlicensed sellers each year without one—often online or at gun shows.

Red Flag laws, which authorize courts to issue orders to temporarily remove firearms from someone who is determined to be a danger to themselves or others, protect due process. Final orders can only be issued after the person is given notice and an opportunity to be heard.

Shoot First laws, which allow a person to use deadly force even when they can safely walk away, disproportionately impact Black Americans. In Shoot First states, homicides in which white shooters kill Black victims are deemed justifiable 5x more often than when the situation is reversed.

Black people in the U.S. are disproportionately impacted by various forms of gun violence. They experience more than 12 times the gun homicides, 18 times the gun assault injuries, and nearly 3 times the fatal police shootings of white Americans.

There is no evidence to show student participation in active shooter drills saves lives and data shows they do cause trauma and anxiety. The best way to protect schools from school shootings are proven threat assessment programs and gun safety laws.