Firearms In The Home: Safe or Dangerous?

FIREARMS IN THE HOME SAFE OR DANGEROUS? THE SMOKING GUNS In October 2013, 37% of Americans DOES A GUN INYOUR HOME PROTECT YOUR FAMILY had guns in their home. ORDOES IT ENDANGER 310 YOUR CHILD'S LIFE? guns were owned by million civilians in the U.S. America is #1 in personal gun ownership, but does owning a gun really make your home - and your family – safer? °114 million were handguns According to a recent study published in the American Journal of Medicine, the answer is NO! The study concluded that the rate of gun ownership was a strong predictor of deaths 110 million were rifles caused by firearms. 86 million were shotguns THERE ARE MORE GUNS THAN PEOPLE IN THE U.S. For every 100 people, there are: 101.05 23.8 6.7 4.9 0.6 guns in the U.S. guns in Canada guns in the UK guns in China guns in Japan IN 2011 GUN DEATHS IN 2011 UK: 146 30,000+ 30,000+ people were killed by firearms in the U.S. people were estimated killed in the Libyan Civil War U.S: 32,163 CAUSE OF U.S. GUN DEATHS IN 2011: WHY DOES THE UNITED KINGDOM HAVE SUCH A LOW NUMBER OF GUN DEATHS COMPARED TO THE U.S.? Machine guns, semi-automatic weapons, pump-action rifles, pepper spray, and guns with barrels less than 30 cm are ]30cm 19,766 11,101 Suicides Homicides prohibited in the UK. Applicants for a firearm STATE OF X cox NAMD XXXXEEX EXFERT DATRS TEAR certificate must demonstrate a "good reason" to own a gun, provide two references, declare all criminal convictions, and renew their license every five 851 222 Unintentional Undetermined years in the UK. The U.S. has over 80% more firearm deaths than the other 23 richest countries in the world combined. LIVES LOST: HOW GUNS ARE KILLING OUR CHILDREN Although most guns are legally acquired by their owners, that doesn't stop children from gaining access to them. As a result, the number of children and teens injured or killed in the U.S. by hand- guns is staggering. IN 2010 IN 2013 Children and Teens The youngest child killed was 9 months old and Double the number 259 children 18,270 2694 of children 14 years under 15 were shot died old or less killed in accidentally killed. shot in his crib. car accidents. 300 children and teens 3x more than U.S. Nearly 2 of all accidental were injured by guns soldiers wounded in gun deaths of children are every week. action in Afghanistan. not recorded as accidents. 81% victims were boys 82 children under 27 more than police 93% accidental shooters years of age were killed by guns. officers killed in the line of duty. were boys HAVING A GUN AT HOME INCREASES YOUR CHILD'S RISK OF: 5x 4x Homicide by 3x 3x Suicide by 3-5x хъ Accidental death by 4x Thousands of children are killed or injured every year, and guns being kept in the home are a major contributing factor to this terrifying statistic. If you must own a gun, keep it locked up and unloaded, and teach your children about proper gun safety. SCHOOL SHOOTINGS: A DANGEROUS SIDE EFFECT OF GUNS IN THE HOME The guns used in these school shootings were legally owned by someone in the shooter's family. 28 10 injured injured killed killed injured killed ADAM LANZA ANDREW & MITCHEL MICHAEL CARNEAL Adam Lanza Andrew Golden and Michael Carneal Sandy Hook Elementary School Shooting, Newtown, CT (2012) Mitchell Johnson Westside Middle School Shooting, Craighead County, AR (1998) Heath High School Shooting, West Paducah, KY (1997) KEEPING YOUR KIDS SAFE WHEN YOU HAVE A GUN IN THE HOME • Support universal background checks. • Support laws that prevent children from gaining access to loaded firearms, including safety devices and harsher punishments for those who keep loaded guns unsecured. • Teach your children about gun safety and why they should never use one. For every instance of a gun used in self-defense: 11 Commit or attempt suicide Use a gun for criminal assault or homicide 4t11 4 LAre injured or killed accidentally, usually children or teens STRICTER GUN LAWS ARE THE ONLY WAY TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF OUR CHILDREN, BOTH AT HOME AND AT SCHOOL. SOURCES: http://www.childrensdefense.org/child-research-data-publications/data/protect-children-notguns-2013.pdf http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/29/us/children-and-guns-the-hidden-toll.htm?hp&_r=0 http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/17/opinion/newmanschoolshooters/ http://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/pdf/10.2105/AJPH.2013.301409 https://www.jreview.com/2013/09/80851-mustknow-statsgun-violence-publicshootings http://uusocialjustice.org/sundry-factsgun-violencequaker-women http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/18/gun-owmershipgun-deathsstudy http://www.gunpolicy.org/ http://www.cdc.gov/motorvehidesafety/child_passenger_safety/cps-factsheethtml http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/mike-friends-blog/itsguns-wealknow-itsnotreallyguns SafeSound Family http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10220974 http://www.businessinsider.com/canada-australia-japan-britain-gun-control-2013-1 Trusted Family Safety Information