More information about gun safety has increasingly led parents to ask about firearms in the homes their kids visit, according to a new national study. The research will be presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) 2025 Meeting , held April 24-28 in Honolulu.
Every new source of information increased parents' likelihood of asking by 40%. Researchers found that 16% of caregivers who had never received firearm safety information asked about firearms where their child was visiting, compared to 79% of those who had heard about firearm safety from eight different sources.
While education from other parents had the biggest impact, the study found that any additional source of information—such as a family member, a school official, or social media—made them more likely to ask about guns when their kids visited other homes. Hearing firearm safety information from a health care provider also increased the likelihood of asking, yet less than 9% of parents report discussing firearm safety with their providers.
"Robust firearm education for parents builds a safer future for children where conversations about gun safety among parents and in communities are the norm rather than the exception," said Maya Haasz, MD, associate professor at Children's Hospital Colorado and presenting author. "As the research shows, the more education about gun safety, the safer families can be, especially when children as young as two years old can accidentally pull a trigger."
The findings underscore the need for ongoing, multifaceted education about gun safety, study authors say. Guns are the leading cause of death among children in the United States, research shows.
The survey consisted of nearly 1,600 caregivers of children under the age of 18.
