Each year in the United States, nearly 300 children aged 17 and under gain access to a firearm and unintentionally shoot themselves or someone else. Nearly 500 more die by suicide with a gun.
Tips for Gun Safety
- Teach your children to consider every gun loaded and dangerous. Tell them to never touch or handle a gun. If they find another child with a gun, instruct them to get away immediately and tell a parent or trusted adult.
- If your children and teens use guns for hunting, enroll them in a gun safety class that will teach them a proper respect for guns and how to use them safely.
- Find out, by talking with the parents of your children’s friends, if there are guns in their home. Ask them to keep all guns locked up and away from children.
- Talk to your children and teens about alternative ways to solve arguments and fights without guns or other weapons.
- Ensure that your teens do not have access to guns in your home. Depressed teens use guns more than any other method to commit suicide.
- L.E.T.S. Stay Safe – Utah’s Firearm Safety and Violence Prevention Program, Utah Attorney General: attorneygeneral.utah.gov/lets-stay-safe-utah/