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.
"We found that many children under age 5 live in homes where firearms are not stored securely," said Andrew Hashikawa MD, MS, FAAP, clinical professor of emergency medicine and pediatrics at the University of Michigan. "Families often own firearms to protect their loved ones, but leaving them unlocked can put young children at risk. Keeping every firearm locked and unloaded is an important part of keeping children safe."
Storage was classified as secure if all household firearms were stored both locked and unloaded, and not secure if any firearm was stored loaded, unlocked, or both.
Hashikawa and senior author Alison L. Miller, PhD, questioned 843 U.S. firearm-owning parents of children ages 1 to 5 in an online survey. Eligible participants were ages 18 and older, English-speaking, and living in a household with firearms. The study investigated the types of firearms they own, why they own them, and how they store them. At least 49% of parents surveyed owned at least one long gun, and 44% owned both types.
The authors observe that firearm injuries are the leading cause of death among children in the United States, and the rates of unintentional firearm injury are increasing among young children. Given that most parents owned handguns and reported protection as their primary motivation for firearm ownership, they conclude there is a need for messaging that addresses the needs and concerns of these groups.
Funding for the research: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
