More than 22 million U.S.
children live in homes with firearms.
In 43 percent of those homes,
the guns are not locked up or fitted with trigger locks, according to a
national survey.
The study, reported in the
"American Journal of Public Health," analyzed gun storage practices
in six thousand nine hundred households with children.
The study found that nine
percent of homes kept firearms unlocked, and loaded. Those homes represent 1.7 million
children.
Another 4 percent of the homes
have guns that are unlocked and have ammunition nearby.
That means that about 2.6
million homes had firearms stored in a way most accessible to children.
Researchers found that many
parents know guns should be locked up but there is a disconnect between
knowledge and action.
They may think the top shelf of
a closet or a sock drawer is secure. But children are notoriously curious and
may find them anyway.
Experts say parents should look
at their own firearm storage and also ask pointed questions about weapons at
their friends' homes as well.
This is one area where it’s not
possible to be too cautious.
