AAP: Gun-Free Home is Safest for Children

Guns in a household significantly increase the likelihood of related injuries and deaths, and the American Academy of Pediatrics' stance is that a gun-free home is the safest home for children and teens, according to its renewed policy statement. Firearm-related injuries is one of the top three causes of death in children, and teens in households with guns are at an increased risk of suicide.

While pediatricians offer prevention and safety tips to the estimated 38 percent of American families who own guns, the AAP reports that many household still store guns loaded and unlocked. “Young children are curious, and are often unable to remember or follow safety rules," says said Marion Burton, MD, FAAP, immediate past president of the AAP. "Older children and teens naturally tend to be moody and impulsive. When you combine these traits with access to guns, the consequences can be tragic and permanent.”