TalkAboutGuns.org aims to inspire an open, national dialogue about the firearms that are in our homes and in our communities, and educate the American public on the risks that come with having or bringing a firearm into the home.
Talk About Guns is a project of the Brady Campaign and Center to Prevent Gun Violence. Our mission is to create a safer America for all of us that will lead to a dramatic reduction in gun deaths and injuries.
Parents take all sorts of measures to ensure their children’s safety. Yet even parents who have taken precautions in their own home need to consider the possibility of their children having unsafe access to a gun in a home they are visiting.
Kids are curious, and even those who have been educated on gun safety may not be able to resist the impulse to touch or play with a gun they encounter. Even if they are able to resist, their friends may not be.
The ASK (Asking Saves Kids) Campaign encourages parents to ask, “Is there an unlocked gun where my child plays?” Asking about the presence of unlocked firearms—on play dates, at sleepovers, and anywhere children visit—is an important safety question, just like conversations about supervision and the discussion of allergies.
To learn more about ASK, please visit www.AskingSavesKids.org.
Anyone who has been around teens and young adults knows that their moods can change quickly, and that the smallest embarrassment, fight, or bad grade can feel like the end of the world.
Research shows that suicide is often an impulsive act, putting teens and young adults with access to a gun at a higher risk of suicide.
The Suicide-Proof Your Home Campaign educates parents about the importance of limiting access to the most common methods of suicide, such as disposing of or locking up firearms and medications, in order to reduce the risk of youth suicide.
Often, there are mere minutes between one’s suicidal impulse and suicide attempt. An available gun in these critical minutes can be the difference between life and death.
To learn more, please visit www.SuicideProof.org.
Tips for Talking About Guns
WITH YOUR PARTNER
- DO YOUR RESEARCH. Before you talk, read up on the risks of a gun in the home, especially if you have children.
- CHOOSE A GOOD TIME. Agree on a day and time to discuss your views on gun ownership together.
- BE RESPECTFUL. Emphasize that you’re discussing this purely for safety reasons and that you aren’t coming from a place of judgment. Don’t make it personal or bring up other issues.
- EXPLORE ALTERNATIVES. Such as storing guns outside the home at a trusted friend’s home, gun range, or police department.
- Consider any additional risk factors, such as if anyone in the household is feeling stressed or depressed.
- DECIDE TOGETHER about whether or not to keep a gun in your home and if so, whether there is a safer way to store it.
- BE KNOWLEDGEABLE. If you and your partner ultimately choose to keep a gun in your home, make sure you both understand how to properly operate your storage systems and how to assemble, disassemble, and safely move the gun in case of emergency.
WITH GUN-OWNING OLDER ADULTS
- BE UNDERSTANDING. For an older person, gun ownership may symbolize independence and security.
- BE PREPARED to back up your concerns with research and facts. Read up on the risks of guns in the home and of older adult firearm suicide. Older adults may be at a higher risk of suicide if they suffer from dementia, delusions, memory problems, or depression.
- INCLUDE other family members or a health care professional in this conversation.
- BE SUPPORTIVE, NOT CONFRONTRATIONAL, when talking about guns. Use general phrases like:
- “A lot of people your age experience…”
- “Because I care about you, I would like to ask…”
- LISTEN to their thoughts and feelings about their gun.
- ASK if they would be open to a safer way of storing their gun such as outside of the home at a trusted friend or family member’s home, gun range, or police department.
- OFFER HELP in finding a safer storage method.
- BE KNOWLEDGEABLE. Older adults, particularly men, are among the most at risk for suicide.
WITH OTHER PARENTS
- ASK the parents of your child's friends, caregivers, and even family members if they have an unlocked gun in their home before sending your child over to play.
- DON’T BE CONFRONTATIONAL. Emphasize that you’re discussing this purely for safety reasons and that you aren’t coming from a place of judgment. You are simply trying to make sure that the kids stay safe. You can use the ASK brochure to open the dialogue.
- WORK THROUGH GROUPS. Introduce ways of asking about unlocked guns to your community through a group like a religious organization or PTA.
- START BY ASKING OTHER QUESTIONS. Include the question along with other things you might normally discuss before sending your child to someone’s house, such as seat belts, pets, Internet access, or allergies.
- USE THE FACTS. Over 1/3 of homes with children have a gun, many of which are left unlocked and loaded. That’s why you’re asking -- you just want to make sure the kids stay safe.
- CHOOSE A COMFORTABLE CONVERSATION STARTER:
- I hope you don’t mind me asking a few health and safety questions …
- I don’t know about your kids, but mine are really curious…
- I heard the most surprising fact …
Safety First
The safest home is one without a gun. However, if you choose to keep a gun in your home, then here’s how to make safety your number one priority. Safe storage can reduce the chance that someone you love is injured or killed.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends you store any guns
unloaded and in a locked place, with ammunition locked away separately. Storing guns away from the home at a gun range or other trusted location is also a good option.
There are a variety of safety and storage devices currently available. This represents a sample of the devices currently on the market. You should do your own research on individual devices to determine their level of security and what will work best for you.
No matter what security device you choose, make sure that it meets safety standards.
When considering your options, keep an eye out for ASTM International certified devices. Check the California Department of Justice’s Approved Firearms Safety Devices website for an updated list of approved devices.
Remember: Safety and storage devices are only as secure as the precautions you take to protect the key or combination to the lock.
Information on this page has been adapted from
King County (WA) LOK-IT-UP and the
California Bureau of Firearms.
