We asked gun owners, parents, doctors and more about their number one way to change that.
Gun violence is a complicated topic in America. But one thing is clear: Guns shouldn’t be the number one killer of children and teens in this country — and yet they are.1 No matter where you stand on this topic, we can all agree that needs to change. And the time to take action is now.
We spoke to people across the United States — gun owners, parents, teachers, health care professionals, community leaders — and asked everyone the same question: If gun injuries are the number one killer of children and teens, what is the number one way we can change that? Each person brought a unique perspective. But again and again, their advice boiled down to three key actions: store guns securely, talk to and support children and teens in crisis and normalize everyday conversations about gun violence prevention.
There isn't one quick fix. But everyone we spoke to felt confident that small, simple actions, from each and every one of us, can have a massive impact. If you want to make a life-saving difference for kids in the U.S., this is how you start.
Select a category to see the number one way to protect children and teens, according to a:
“I have taken care of patients who have been injured by firearms, and it is heartbreaking to know that a simple conversation about secure storage could have saved a life. Over 78 percent of children reportedly know where the household firearm is, even if the parent has hidden it. Teaching your child about firearm safety is critical — but it's not a substitution for secure storage.”
"With the right of gun ownership comes the responsibility to ensure that unauthorized people cannot access your firearms, ever. I keep guns I'm not using or don't expect to use right away unloaded and locked in a large gun safe. Two rifles that do not fit in my gun safe are kept in locked cases, unloaded."
"I've worked in community violence intervention, stopping violence, shootings and killings, for over 25 years. What can you do now? You can practice gun safety. That means, lock up your gun. That means if you don't have a lockbox… get a lockbox. We have the opportunity to save a child's life."
"People often think that if you simply hide a gun from a child, that firearm is safely stored. But kids are very adept at finding hidden objects — and they are even more likely to play with things they are told to avoid. If half the homes where kids live with unlocked guns switched to locking their guns, we could prevent an estimated 251 deaths by suicide and unintentional shootings among American youth every year."
"Firearm owners are often looked at as the problem or part of the problem, but I think it's really important that we look to gun owners as part of the solution. In my house, all of my firearms are stored securely. The one thing that I want more firearm owners to know? Secure storage saves lives."
"It doesn't need to feel strange or awkward to start conversations about how guns are stored. I can tell you from my own experience as a parent and gun safety advocate: it rarely does. Gun injury prevention starts with you, and how you engage with other adults. In advance of a playdate, family vacation or carpool, build gun safety into other routine questions that you may ask about pets and allergies. If you're a gun owner, share your own secure gun storage habits. Just normalizing the conversation can prevent gun injuries and save lives."
"Mental health issues in children and teens are underdiagnosed, and it is often inadequately treated. Even though somebody is on medication, it doesn't mean that they're feeling better, that they're not depressed anymore, that they're not having suicidal thoughts. Talk to your children. Inadequately treated mental health issues — paired with the stresses of adolescence and access to a gun — may be a lethal combination. I suggest that families schedule time where everyone checks in. Maybe a Friday night dinner, or a Sunday afternoon activity — any safe, planned, predictable time that is uninterrupted and protected time. It's important for adults to not be afraid to bring up drugs, sexuality, depression or suicidal ideation. Kids are already thinking about these things. The more you discuss it, the easier it becomes to talk about."
"Most youth shootings — including firearm suicides and school shootings — use a gun obtained from a friend or family member. Simple behavior changes — secure storage, awareness of risk factors, mental health support and adult mentorship — can be tremendously effective in reducing youth firearm deaths."
"The number one action we can take to better protect children and teens from guns is to talk openly and honestly with our children — and each other — about firearm safety. That means having conversations about the dangers of improper firearm storage and use. We should be talking to children about what to do if they find themselves in the presence of an unsecured firearm: If you see a gun, do not touch it, and immediately inform an adult — even if it looks like a toy."
"If you look into it, you'll see that when it comes to unintentional deaths, school shootings, suicides as young as 10 years old — the common denominator is the children had access to unsecured guns. If you're going to have a gun in your home, it has to be secured. It is your job as the gun owner to make sure that only your hands access that gun, and not unauthorized users or children. For a long time, folks felt really uncomfortable with safes [because of concerns about access]: 'I can't access my gun,' or 'Where's my key?' But with biometric safes, you can access a gun safe faster than you can open your smartphone and call 911."
"Kids see everything. I've had so many students find something in the classroom that I lost three weeks ago and say, 'I've known that was there the whole time.' So even if your gun is hidden inside your house, it doesn't mean that they're not going to find it. You think you're being slick, but you're not. Kids know where the hiding places are. That's why secure storage is so important."
"Gun violence has been the number one killer of kids in America since 2020, but it has been the leading cause of death among Black children since 2006. The one thing we need to understand is, when gun violence disproportionately impacts one racial group, we must focus on why. We need to really look at why children and teens carry guns and what draws them to guns and then use that to inform effective interventions."
"We — as parents, relatives or school administrators — need to tell kids that they can anonymously report someone in school with a gun without worrying that it will get back to their friends. Kids need to know that if you see a gun, you report a gun. They're not being a snitch. They're doing the right thing."
"I lost my 14-year-old son JaJuan to an unintentional shooting in 2016. When JaJuan was killed, guns were not the leading cause of death for children or teens. Today, it is. After the death of JaJuan, we have added firearms to our conversation, asking about the presence of firearms in other homes before we allow any of our family members to go visit. A simple conversation can keep our kids safe and out of harm's way. We have to start the conversation today."
"If I can borrow from an Eleanor Roosevelt quote, I think that firearm injury prevention can begin in 'small places, close to home — so close and so small that they cannot be seen on any maps of the world.' When it comes to protecting our kids, we can start with small actions and personal conversations. We all want our kids to be safe and grow up to become happy and healthy adults. So my advice is to take a small step — to learn something new, to secure a firearm, to talk to a friend. As a pediatric intensive care physician, I have had to walk alongside countless parents during their worst nightmare: the loss of a child. Some deaths we can't prevent — an unrelenting cancer or progressive disease. But we can prevent many gun injuries. And that makes the loss of those children's lives all the more tragic for me personally."
"When people think about gun injuries and deaths in kids and teens, they don't think about suicide. But suicide accounts for almost a third of gun deaths in kids. And the number one place where kids get those guns is at their home. For parents with guns at home, it's really important that they store the guns locked and inaccessible to kids or teens in that home."
"We need to normalize conversations about gun safety and conflict resolution in our homes, schools and communities. Teaching children how to de-escalate conflict and how to stay safe when they encounter a firearm is just as important as ensuring that guns are stored securely. It's about combining prevention, education and access to mental health resources to create safer environments for our youth."
"As a longtime leader in the National PTA, I've heard far too many stories from PTA leaders across the country about the tremendous impact of gun violence on their communities. National PTA and Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund's Blueprint for Parent Leaders to Take Action on Gun Violence Prevention is full of advice on how to start conversations about gun safety — like 20 questions every parent should ask their child's school, including whether the school has school safety drills and what type of student mental health support services are available."
"As a new parent myself, I would do anything to make sure my child is safe, protected and happy. That's what parents want for their kids. But this responsibility has to extend to gun ownership. I'm so proud of Brady's End Family Fire program, in partnership with the Ad Council, which speaks directly to gun owners about how safe storage is an inherent principle for any responsible gun owner. It gives advice on how to speak honestly about the risks a firearm can bring into a home, and the effectiveness of secure storage in protecting oneself and their loved ones. Anytime someone brings a firearm into a home with children, they have to be conscious of how that firearm can put their kids, themselves or their community in danger."
"The most important action gun owners can take to improve gun safety is to model their own safe, thoughtful behavior relating to guns. They must teach all family members — especially children and adolescents — respect for the dangers of firearms, as well as anger control and effective conflict resolution. And parents should feel duty-bound, for everyone's sake, to reach out for medical and psychological support if they have concerns about depression or potentially dangerous forms of mental instability in any family member. Our family suffered the death of a young woman who died by suicide with a family handgun. The gun was 'for protection,' but she used it against herself during a period of serious depression. Her death still haunts us."
"You don't want children anywhere around a gun. When children pick up guns, they're often not strong enough to pull the trigger, so they'll pick it up and use both thumbs with it pointed directly at themselves. I always tell kids to think of a gun like a laser that's on all the time — cutting through anything it's pointed at. We need to teach kids to assume all guns are loaded, and that you never point a gun at anyone, ever."
"It's never safe for children and teens to have access to guns. When they are injured or killed by guns, the number one reason is that [the child or teen] accessed an adult's firearm. If you have to have a gun, store it safely and securely. Ultimately, parents and adults are responsible."
If you or someone you know needs help, visit 988lifeline.org or call or text the
Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988.
Select a category to see the number one way to protect children and teens, according to a:
“I have taken care of patients who have been injured by firearms, and it is heartbreaking to know that a simple conversation about secure storage could have saved a life. Over 78 percent of children reportedly know where the household firearm is, even if the parent has hidden it. Teaching your child about firearm safety is critical — but it's not a substitution for secure storage.”
"With the right of gun ownership comes the responsibility to ensure that unauthorized people cannot access your firearms, ever. I keep guns I'm not using or don't expect to use right away unloaded and locked in a large gun safe. Two rifles that do not fit in my gun safe are kept in locked cases, unloaded."
"Firearm owners are often looked at as the problem or part of the problem, but I think it's really important that we look to gun owners as part of the solution. In my house, all of my firearms are stored securely. The one thing that I want more firearm owners to know? Secure storage saves lives."
"We — as parents, relatives or school administrators — need to tell kids that they can anonymously report someone in school with a gun without worrying that it will get back to their friends. Kids need to know that if you see a gun, you report a gun. They're not being a snitch. They're doing the right thing."
"If I can borrow from an Eleanor Roosevelt quote, I think that firearm injury prevention can begin in 'small places, close to home — so close and so small that they cannot be seen on any maps of the world.' When it comes to protecting our kids, we can start with small actions and personal conversations. We all want our kids to be safe and grow up to become happy and healthy adults. So my advice is to take a small step — to learn something new, to secure a firearm, to talk to a friend. As a pediatric intensive care physician, I have had to walk alongside countless parents during their worst nightmare: the loss of a child. Some deaths we can't prevent — an unrelenting cancer or progressive disease. But we can prevent many gun injuries. And that makes the loss of those children's lives all the more tragic for me personally."
"You don't want children anywhere around a gun. When children pick up guns, they're often not strong enough to pull the trigger, so they'll pick it up and use both thumbs with it pointed directly at themselves. I always tell kids to think of a gun like a laser that's on all the time — cutting through anything it's pointed at. We need to teach kids to assume all guns are loaded, and that you never point a gun at anyone, ever."
"People often think that if you simply hide a gun from a child, that firearm is safely stored. But kids are very adept at finding hidden objects — and they are even more likely to play with things they are told to avoid. If half the homes where kids live with unlocked guns switched to locking their guns, we could prevent an estimated 251 deaths by suicide and unintentional shootings among American youth every year."
"Firearm owners are often looked at as the problem or part of the problem, but I think it's really important that we look to gun owners as part of the solution. In my house, all of my firearms are stored securely. The one thing that I want more firearm owners to know? Secure storage saves lives."
"It doesn't need to feel strange or awkward to start conversations about how guns are stored. I can tell you from my own experience as a parent and gun safety advocate: it rarely does. Gun injury prevention starts with you, and how you engage with other adults. In advance of a playdate, family vacation or carpool, build gun safety into other routine questions that you may ask about pets and allergies. If you're a gun owner, share your own secure gun storage habits. Just normalizing the conversation can prevent gun injuries and save lives."
"If you look into it, you'll see that when it comes to unintentional deaths, school shootings, suicides as young as 10 years old — the common denominator is the children had access to unsecured guns. If you're going to have a gun in your home, it has to be secured. It is your job as the gun owner to make sure that only your hands access that gun, and not unauthorized users or children. For a long time, folks felt really uncomfortable with safes [because of concerns about access]: 'I can't access my gun,' or 'Where's my key?' But with biometric safes, you can access a gun safe faster than you can open your smartphone and call 911."
"We — as parents, relatives or school administrators — need to tell kids that they can anonymously report someone in school with a gun without worrying that it will get back to their friends. Kids need to know that if you see a gun, you report a gun. They're not being a snitch. They're doing the right thing."
"I lost my 14-year-old son JaJuan to an unintentional shooting in 2016. When JaJuan was killed, guns were not the leading cause of death for children or teens. Today, it is. After the death of JaJuan, we have added firearms to our conversation, asking about the presence of firearms in other homes before we allow any of our family members to go visit. A simple conversation can keep our kids safe and out of harm's way. We have to start the conversation today."
"When people think about gun injuries and deaths in kids and teens, they don't think about suicide. But suicide accounts for almost a third of gun deaths in kids. And the number one place where kids get those guns is at their home. For parents with guns at home, it's really important that they store the guns locked and inaccessible to kids or teens in that home."
"We need to normalize conversations about gun safety and conflict resolution in our homes, schools and communities. Teaching children how to de-escalate conflict and how to stay safe when they encounter a firearm is just as important as ensuring that guns are stored securely. It's about combining prevention, education and access to mental health resources to create safer environments for our youth."
"As a longtime leader in the National PTA, I've heard far too many stories from PTA leaders across the country about the tremendous impact of gun violence on their communities. National PTA and Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund's Blueprint for Parent Leaders to Take Action on Gun Violence Prevention is full of advice on how to start conversations about gun safety — like 20 questions every parent should ask their child's school, including whether the school has school safety drills and what type of student mental health support services are available."
"As a new parent myself, I would do anything to make sure my child is safe, protected and happy. That's what parents want for their kids. But this responsibility has to extend to gun ownership. I'm so proud of Brady's End Family Fire program, in partnership with the Ad Council, which speaks directly to gun owners about how safe storage is an inherent principle for any responsible gun owner. It gives advice on how to speak honestly about the risks a firearm can bring into a home, and the effectiveness of secure storage in protecting oneself and their loved ones. Anytime someone brings a firearm into a home with children, they have to be conscious of how that firearm can put their kids, themselves or their community in danger."
"It's never safe for children and teens to have access to guns. When they are injured or killed by guns, the number one reason is that [the child or teen] accessed an adult's firearm. If you have to have a gun, store it safely and securely. Ultimately, parents and adults are responsible."
“I have taken care of patients who have been injured by firearms, and it is heartbreaking to know that a simple conversation about secure storage could have saved a life. Over 78 percent of children reportedly know where the household firearm is, even if the parent has hidden it. Teaching your child about firearm safety is critical — but it's not a substitution for secure storage.”
"People often think that if you simply hide a gun from a child, that firearm is safely stored. But kids are very adept at finding hidden objects — and they are even more likely to play with things they are told to avoid. If half the homes where kids live with unlocked guns switched to locking their guns, we could prevent an estimated 251 deaths by suicide and unintentional shootings among American youth every year."
"Firearm owners are often looked at as the problem or part of the problem, but I think it's really important that we look to gun owners as part of the solution. In my house, all of my firearms are stored securely. The one thing that I want more firearm owners to know? Secure storage saves lives."
"It doesn't need to feel strange or awkward to start conversations about how guns are stored. I can tell you from my own experience as a parent and gun safety advocate: it rarely does. Gun injury prevention starts with you, and how you engage with other adults. In advance of a playdate, family vacation or carpool, build gun safety into other routine questions that you may ask about pets and allergies. If you're a gun owner, share your own secure gun storage habits. Just normalizing the conversation can prevent gun injuries and save lives."
"Mental health issues in children and teens are underdiagnosed, and it is often inadequately treated. Even though somebody is on medication, it doesn't mean that they're feeling better, that they're not depressed anymore, that they're not having suicidal thoughts. Talk to your children. Inadequately treated mental health issues — paired with the stresses of adolescence and access to a gun — may be a lethal combination. I suggest that families schedule time where everyone checks in. Maybe a Friday night dinner, or a Sunday afternoon activity — any safe, planned, predictable time that is uninterrupted and protected time. It's important for adults to not be afraid to bring up drugs, sexuality, depression or suicidal ideation. Kids are already thinking about these things. The more you discuss it, the easier it becomes to talk about."
"Most youth shootings — including firearm suicides and school shootings — use a gun obtained from a friend or family member. Simple behavior changes — secure storage, awareness of risk factors, mental health support and adult mentorship — can be tremendously effective in reducing youth firearm deaths."
"If I can borrow from an Eleanor Roosevelt quote, I think that firearm injury prevention can begin in 'small places, close to home — so close and so small that they cannot be seen on any maps of the world.' When it comes to protecting our kids, we can start with small actions and personal conversations. We all want our kids to be safe and grow up to become happy and healthy adults. So my advice is to take a small step — to learn something new, to secure a firearm, to talk to a friend. As a pediatric intensive care physician, I have had to walk alongside countless parents during their worst nightmare: the loss of a child. Some deaths we can't prevent — an unrelenting cancer or progressive disease. But we can prevent many gun injuries. And that makes the loss of those children's lives all the more tragic for me personally."
"When people think about gun injuries and deaths in kids and teens, they don't think about suicide. But suicide accounts for almost a third of gun deaths in kids. And the number one place where kids get those guns is at their home. For parents with guns at home, it's really important that they store the guns locked and inaccessible to kids or teens in that home."
"The most important action gun owners can take to improve gun safety is to model their own safe, thoughtful behavior relating to guns. They must teach all family members — especially children and adolescents — respect for the dangers of firearms, as well as anger control and effective conflict resolution. And parents should feel duty-bound, for everyone's sake, to reach out for medical and psychological support if they have concerns about depression or potentially dangerous forms of mental instability in any family member. Our family suffered the death of a young woman who died by suicide with a family handgun. The gun was 'for protection,' but she used it against herself during a period of serious depression. Her death still haunts us."
“I have taken care of patients who have been injured by firearms, and it is heartbreaking to know that a simple conversation about secure storage could have saved a life. Over 78 percent of children reportedly know where the household firearm is, even if the parent has hidden it. Teaching your child about firearm safety is critical — but it's not a substitution for secure storage.”
"With the right of gun ownership comes the responsibility to ensure that unauthorized people cannot access your firearms, ever. I keep guns I'm not using or don't expect to use right away unloaded and locked in a large gun safe. Two rifles that do not fit in my gun safe are kept in locked cases, unloaded."
"Most youth shootings — including firearm suicides and school shootings — use a gun obtained from a friend or family member. Simple behavior changes — secure storage, awareness of risk factors, mental health support and adult mentorship — can be tremendously effective in reducing youth firearm deaths."
"Kids see everything. I've had so many students find something in the classroom that I lost three weeks ago and say, 'I've known that was there the whole time.' So even if your gun is hidden inside your house, it doesn't mean that they're not going to find it. You think you're being slick, but you're not. Kids know where the hiding places are. That's why secure storage is so important."
"Gun violence has been the number one killer of kids in America since 2020, but it has been the leading cause of death among Black children since 2006. The one thing we need to understand is, when gun violence disproportionately impacts one racial group, we must focus on why. We need to really look at why children and teens carry guns and what draws them to guns and then use that to inform effective interventions."
"We — as parents, relatives or school administrators — need to tell kids that they can anonymously report someone in school with a gun without worrying that it will get back to their friends. Kids need to know that if you see a gun, you report a gun. They're not being a snitch. They're doing the right thing."
"If I can borrow from an Eleanor Roosevelt quote, I think that firearm injury prevention can begin in 'small places, close to home — so close and so small that they cannot be seen on any maps of the world.' When it comes to protecting our kids, we can start with small actions and personal conversations. We all want our kids to be safe and grow up to become happy and healthy adults. So my advice is to take a small step — to learn something new, to secure a firearm, to talk to a friend. As a pediatric intensive care physician, I have had to walk alongside countless parents during their worst nightmare: the loss of a child. Some deaths we can't prevent — an unrelenting cancer or progressive disease. But we can prevent many gun injuries. And that makes the loss of those children's lives all the more tragic for me personally."
"You don't want children anywhere around a gun. When children pick up guns, they're often not strong enough to pull the trigger, so they'll pick it up and use both thumbs with it pointed directly at themselves. I always tell kids to think of a gun like a laser that's on all the time — cutting through anything it's pointed at. We need to teach kids to assume all guns are loaded, and that you never point a gun at anyone, ever."
"People often think that if you simply hide a gun from a child, that firearm is safely stored. But kids are very adept at finding hidden objects — and they are even more likely to play with things they are told to avoid. If half the homes where kids live with unlocked guns switched to locking their guns, we could prevent an estimated 251 deaths by suicide and unintentional shootings among American youth every year."
"If you look into it, you'll see that when it comes to unintentional deaths, school shootings, suicides as young as 10 years old — the common denominator is the children had access to unsecured guns. If you're going to have a gun in your home, it has to be secured. It is your job as the gun owner to make sure that only your hands access that gun, and not unauthorized users or children. For a long time, folks felt really uncomfortable with safes [because of concerns about access]: 'I can't access my gun,' or 'Where's my key?' But with biometric safes, you can access a gun safe faster than you can open your smartphone and call 911."
"I lost my 14-year-old son JaJuan to an unintentional shooting in 2016. When JaJuan was killed, guns were not the leading cause of death for children or teens. Today, it is. After the death of JaJuan, we have added firearms to our conversation, asking about the presence of firearms in other homes before we allow any of our family members to go visit. A simple conversation can keep our kids safe and out of harm's way. We have to start the conversation today."
"We need to normalize conversations about gun safety and conflict resolution in our homes, schools and communities. Teaching children how to de-escalate conflict and how to stay safe when they encounter a firearm is just as important as ensuring that guns are stored securely. It's about combining prevention, education and access to mental health resources to create safer environments for our youth."
"The most important action gun owners can take to improve gun safety is to model their own safe, thoughtful behavior relating to guns. They must teach all family members — especially children and adolescents — respect for the dangers of firearms, as well as anger control and effective conflict resolution. And parents should feel duty-bound, for everyone's sake, to reach out for medical and psychological support if they have concerns about depression or potentially dangerous forms of mental instability in any family member. Our family suffered the death of a young woman who died by suicide with a family handgun. The gun was 'for protection,' but she used it against herself during a period of serious depression. Her death still haunts us."
"I've worked in community violence intervention, stopping violence, shootings and killings, for over 25 years. What can you do now? You can practice gun safety. That means, lock up your gun. That means if you don't have a lockbox… get a lockbox. We have the opportunity to save a child's life."
"People often think that if you simply hide a gun from a child, that firearm is safely stored. But kids are very adept at finding hidden objects — and they are even more likely to play with things they are told to avoid. If half the homes where kids live with unlocked guns switched to locking their guns, we could prevent an estimated 251 deaths by suicide and unintentional shootings among American youth every year."
"It doesn't need to feel strange or awkward to start conversations about how guns are stored. I can tell you from my own experience as a parent and gun safety advocate: it rarely does. Gun injury prevention starts with you, and how you engage with other adults. In advance of a playdate, family vacation or carpool, build gun safety into other routine questions that you may ask about pets and allergies. If you're a gun owner, share your own secure gun storage habits. Just normalizing the conversation can prevent gun injuries and save lives."
"The number one action we can take to better protect children and teens from guns is to talk openly and honestly with our children — and each other — about firearm safety. That means having conversations about the dangers of improper firearm storage and use. We should be talking to children about what to do if they find themselves in the presence of an unsecured firearm: If you see a gun, do not touch it, and immediately inform an adult — even if it looks like a toy."
"If you look into it, you'll see that when it comes to unintentional deaths, school shootings, suicides as young as 10 years old — the common denominator is the children had access to unsecured guns. If you're going to have a gun in your home, it has to be secured. It is your job as the gun owner to make sure that only your hands access that gun, and not unauthorized users or children. For a long time, folks felt really uncomfortable with safes [because of concerns about access]: 'I can't access my gun,' or 'Where's my key?' But with biometric safes, you can access a gun safe faster than you can open your smartphone and call 911."
"Gun violence has been the number one killer of kids in America since 2020, but it has been the leading cause of death among Black children since 2006. The one thing we need to understand is, when gun violence disproportionately impacts one racial group, we must focus on why. We need to really look at why children and teens carry guns and what draws them to guns and then use that to inform effective interventions."
"I lost my 14-year-old son JaJuan to an unintentional shooting in 2016. When JaJuan was killed, guns were not the leading cause of death for children or teens. Today, it is. After the death of JaJuan, we have added firearms to our conversation, asking about the presence of firearms in other homes before we allow any of our family members to go visit. A simple conversation can keep our kids safe and out of harm's way. We have to start the conversation today."
"We need to normalize conversations about gun safety and conflict resolution in our homes, schools and communities. Teaching children how to de-escalate conflict and how to stay safe when they encounter a firearm is just as important as ensuring that guns are stored securely. It's about combining prevention, education and access to mental health resources to create safer environments for our youth."
"As a longtime leader in the National PTA, I've heard far too many stories from PTA leaders across the country about the tremendous impact of gun violence on their communities. National PTA and Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund's Blueprint for Parent Leaders to Take Action on Gun Violence Prevention is full of advice on how to start conversations about gun safety — like 20 questions every parent should ask their child's school, including whether the school has school safety drills and what type of student mental health support services are available."
"As a new parent myself, I would do anything to make sure my child is safe, protected and happy. That's what parents want for their kids. But this responsibility has to extend to gun ownership. I'm so proud of Brady's End Family Fire program, in partnership with the Ad Council, which speaks directly to gun owners about how safe storage is an inherent principle for any responsible gun owner. It gives advice on how to speak honestly about the risks a firearm can bring into a home, and the effectiveness of secure storage in protecting oneself and their loved ones. Anytime someone brings a firearm into a home with children, they have to be conscious of how that firearm can put their kids, themselves or their community in danger."
"It's never safe for children and teens to have access to guns. When they are injured or killed by guns, the number one reason is that [the child or teen] accessed an adult's firearm. If you have to have a gun, store it safely and securely. Ultimately, parents and adults are responsible."
Gun violence is a complicated topic in America. But one thing is clear: Guns shouldn’t be the number one killer of children and teens in this country — and yet they are.1 No matter where you stand on this topic, we can all agree that needs to change. And the time to take action is now.
We spoke to people across the United States — gun owners, parents, teachers, health care professionals, community leaders — and asked everyone the same question: If gun injuries are the number one killer of children and teens, what is the number one way we can change that? Each person brought a unique perspective. But again and again, their advice boiled down to three key actions: Store guns securely, talk to and support children and teens in crisis and normalize everyday conversations about gun violence prevention.
There isn't one quick fix. But everyone we spoke to felt confident that small, simple actions, from each and every one of us, can have a massive impact. If you want to make a life-saving difference for kids in the U.S., this is how you start.
If you or someone you know needs help, visit 988lifeline.org or call or text the
Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988.
