It is important to educate on secure gun storage. Storing household guns locked, unloaded, and separate from the ammunition is associated with reductions in the risk of self-inflicted and unintentional firearm injuries among children and teenagers—up to 85 percent depending on the type of storage practice. When it comes to unintentional shootings by children and teens, and self-inflicted shootings among children and teens, it matters whether guns, ammunition, or both are locked. Best practices are to lock the gun unloaded and to also lock the ammunition, separate from the gun.
Warnings should also include, at the minimum, the following information:
- Access to a gun increases the risk of death by suicide by three times.
- More than 100 children and teens die by unintentional gunshot every year.
- The presence of a gun in a domestic violence situation makes it five times more likely that the woman will be killed.
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