Firearm Safety
Death and injury by firearms can be either intentional or
unintentional. Homicides and suicides are categorized as intentional injuries or
injury-related deaths. Accidental shootings by children who discover and play
with guns are considered unintentional as are hunting or recreational shooting
accidents. Ammunition should be:
Resources for Safe Hunting and Recreational Shooting
SAFE Guilford's
firearm safety intervention focuses on the safe storage
of firearms in the home. Safe firearms storage may prevent accidental shootings
by children and teen suicide by firearm. Resources for safe hunting
and recreational shooting are listed at the bottom of the
page.
In Guilford
County, approximately 30% of homes have firearms; in 38% of these homes,
the firearms are loaded (Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey, 2002). It
is unknown how many are left unlocked.
The American
Academy of Pediatrics states in its policy paper entitled
Firearm-Related Injuries Affecting the Pediatric Population (2004),
that the most effective measure to prevent firearm-related injuries to children
and adolescents is the absence of guns from homes and communities. Until that
time, all adults have the responsibility to ensure no child or teen will find a
loaded or improperly secured firearm.
Safe Firearm and Ammunition Storage:
Firearms should
be:
Common Sense Safety Tips-Talk with Your
Kids (pdf) - This document
from Common Sense About
Kids and Guns provides tips for
parents to talk to their young children, pre-teens and teens
Brady
Center to Prevent Gun Violence - find interactive games for children and
fact sheets on firearms
National Rifle Association
National Shooting Sports Foundation
Collaborating to prevent injuries and deaths through the
identification, education and promotion of safety
issues.
