Guns in the Home? How to Keep Kids Safe

Firearms are now the leading cause of death for U.S. children and teens under the age of 18 and having guns in the home increases the risk of unintentional shootings, suicide and homicide.

To help protect Michigan families – particularly children – from the tragedies of gun violence and unintentional firearms injuries, a law requiring secure storage of firearms went into effect on Feb. 13. The new law, Public Act 17 of 2023, requires individuals to keep unattended weapons unloaded and locked with a locking device or stored in a locked box or container if it is reasonably known that a minor is likely to be present in the home. 

Thanks to a generous $10,000 donation from the MyMichigan Health Foundation, our facilities will now be able to offer gun locks to families in need through our pediatric offices, emergency care rooms and urgent care facilities.

Eight ways to keep everyone safer

Studies show children are naturally curious, even about a firearm they’ve been warned not to touch. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, two-thirds (67%) of unintentional firearm injury deaths among children and adolescents occurred when the shooter was playing with the firearm or showing the firearm to others.

Here are several things all parents can do to keep children safe with a firearm in the home:

• Keep guns out of reach and out of sight of children by storing them securely. Leaving guns unsecured – on a nightstand, table, or other place where a child can gain access – can lead to injuries and fatalities.
• Store guns unloaded and secured with effective, child-resistant gun locks in a locked container out of the reach and sight of children.
• Store ammunition in a separate locked container out of the reach and sight of children.
• Use combination locks and safes, or safes that use fingerprint recognition locks. Keep the combinations carefully hidden.
• When a gun is not being stored, keep it in your immediate possession and control at all times. Otherwise, store the gun unloaded, locked and separate from ammunition.
• If you carry a gun in your car, make sure to outfit your vehicle with a lockable container so you can securely store the gun when you exit the vehicle.
• If a visitor has a gun in a backpack, briefcase, handbag or an unlocked car, provide them with a place to store it securely (locked, unloaded, and separate from ammunition) while they are in your home.
• If a family member or loved one is in crisis and may be a risk to themselves or others, consider temporarily removing firearms from your home. Such crises can involve people who are depressed, suicidal, or abusing drugs or alcohol.

Sources

New Gun Safety Laws to Protect Families Go Into Effect February 13 (Health & Human Services)

Guns in the Home: How to Keep Kids Safe (Healthychildren.org)

Children and Gun Safety: What to Know and Do (Harvard Health Publishing)

Gun Safety Tips (Safe Kids Worldwide)

Paul Berg, M.D., is a board-certified family physician who has been with MyMichigan since 2005 and has served as president of MyMichigan Medical Group since February 2018. Dr. Berg is also a senior vice president and chief medical officer at MyMichigan Health.