How to talk to parents about secure gun storage
Health care professionals and parents share a responsibility to protect kids and teens from firearm injuries, and that includes discussing the best ways to keep children safe. When talking with a parent about strategies for reducing firearm injuries, you may find it helpful to focus on the shared goal of keeping young people safe and healthy.
One simple step that parents and caregivers can take is making sure that any firearms in their home are stored securely. In controlled studies, people who received physician counseling were more likely to report the adoption of one or more safe firearm storage practices. (Source: AAP)
Why it's important
Secure firearm storage prevents unauthorized access and reduces the risk of injuries. Hiding a gun from children is not the same as storing it securely. One study found that while 70% of parents reported that their child could not access a household firearm, 22% of children in those households reported being able to access a firearm within five minutes. (Source: JAMA)
How to start the conversation
As a health care professional, you are a trusted resource for parents. To maintain that trust, raise the topic of secure firearm storage in a straightforward and nonjudgmental way. Make it clear to parents that you routinely ask about firearm storage in an effort to keep children safe from firearm injuries.
“I ask parents routine safety questions about things like bike helmets, smoke alarms, and access to medications and firearms. Is it OK with you if I do that now?”
“I talk to parents about secure storage of all firearms not only so they can keep their kids safe at home, but so they know to ask friends and family members about how firearms are stored before their child spends time in that person’s home.”
"Even if your teen knows how to safely operate a firearm, we recommend secure storage to prevent unsupervised access. That’s because teenage brains are still developing, and teens can be impulsive—which increases their risk of suicide."
What to say
Secure firearm storage means storing firearms in a way that prevents unauthorized or unsupervised access. Gun owners have many options available, including cable locks, trigger locks, lock boxes, and gun vaults. Someone who wants quick access to their firearm for protection may prefer a biometric lock.
Familiarizing yourself with the different options for secure firearm storage will help you talk about them more effectively. Let the parent know that you appreciate their willingness to have this conversation.
“Many parents think their children understand basic firearm safety and know not to touch a gun, but kids and teens sometimes act on impulse. Secure firearm storage can help keep them safe.”
“Kids are curious and like to explore, so if you have an unsecured firearm in your home, your child—or one of their friends—may find it and think it’s a toy. A teen may handle the firearm to show it off in front of their friends. Storing all of your firearms securely is a proven strategy for preventing gun injuries.”
“I understand wanting quick access to a firearm in an emergency, but an unsecured firearm is also at risk of unauthorized access or theft. Are you open to using a biometric lock or safe to balance security with quick access when you need it?”
How to talk about reducing access to firearms for at-risk adults
Most firearm owners understand that they have a duty to make sure kids and teens don’t have access to firearms. But sometimes, it may also be dangerous for an adult to have access to firearms. If you are concerned that an adult patient—or another adult in their life—is at imminent risk of harming themselves or others, talk with them about their options.
Things like severe depression, domestic violence, and the onset of dementia may make it more dangerous for someone to have access to firearms. Talk with the patient or their family about how to keep them safe.
“Suicidal impulses are usually temporary and involve little planning, particularly in teens. A suicide attempt with a gun is almost always fatal, so reducing someone’s access to firearms while they are in crisis can add time and space to help keep them safe.
“As people age, their abilities change. Sometimes this means it’s time to stop driving—or that it may no longer be safe for them to have access to a firearm. Is this something you’ve thought about?”
“If you want to temporarily reduce a family member’s access to firearms while they’re at risk, consider using an offsite storage facility. If they aren’t comfortable with that, ask a friend or family member to store the gun securely on their behalf.”
As a last-resort intervention option, some states may allow family members or health care professionals to petition for an Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO). An ERPO is a civil, not criminal, order that temporarily prevents someone who may be a risk to themselves or others from buying or possessing a firearm.
After the chat
- Include secure firearm storage best practices in the after-visit summary.
- The more of these conversations you have, the more comfortable and confident you’ll feel discussing secure firearm storage and injury prevention with your patients.
- If a patient asks questions you aren’t sure how to answer, let them know you will try to find answers and get back to them. For example, they may want more details about secure firearm storage options or statistics about firearm injuries and young people. Check our resources page to learn more.
The information provided on this site is for general education purposes. Consult your health care professional for specific advice. Call or text 988 if you or a loved one is in crisis.
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