Keeping every firearm locked and unloaded helps keep children safe
October 4, 2026 – SAN DIEGO — About 44% of parents of young children who own firearms reported that they own both a handgun and a long gun, at least one of which is not stored securely, according to research presented during the American Academy of Pediatrics 2026 National Conference & Exhibition in San Diego Oct. 2-6.
The study, “Handgun and Long Gun Ownership and Storage in Families With Young Children,” found that most of the parents stated they kept firearms for their family’s protection. More than three-fourths (77%) of them reported that they stored at least one firearm unlocked and loaded or both unlocked and loaded…