Gun Safety

Gun safety encompasses appropriately handling, storing, and using firearms to minimize risk of accidents, injuries, or fatalities. It emphasizes the importance of education, training, and adherence to safety protocols to ensure responsible firearm ownership and use. Gun safety directly affects the well-being of individuals and communities—a culture of responsible gun ownership contributes to overall public safety. Secure gun storage, gun owner safety training, reporting of lost or stolen guns, and knowing the risks of gun ownership are all shown to reduce the likelihood of firearm-related incidents, including suicide, homicide, domestic violence, police-involved shootings, and unintentional shootings. 

Gun-related deaths from all (preventable, intentional, and undetermined) causes totaled 48,222 in 2022. Suicide accounts for 56% of deaths related to firearms; 41% were homicides (including mass shootings), and about 1% were preventable/accidental. Total gun-related deaths in the U.S. have increased by 34% in the last two decades (since 2013). Despite this, guns remain an ingrained part of American society and culture; for many, firearms are integral to the principle upon which the country was founded. About 94% of gun owners say that owning a gun is essential to their freedom of speech and 67% of gun owners cite protection as a major reason for owning a gun. A lack of gun safety In the U.S. disproportionately affects children and adolescents, who are most vulnerable to accidental shootings and firearm-related violence. Additionally, Black Americans are twice as likely as White Americans to die from gun violence and 14 times more likely to be wounded.

There are ongoing debates and legislative efforts surrounding Second Amendment rights, public safety concerns, and the impact of gun violence on communities. Despite varying state regulations, there is a complex patchwork of gun laws across the country, with continued advocacy for stricter gun control measures alongside staunch defense of individual firearm ownership rights. Additionally, recent mass shootings and publicized instances of gun violence have intensified calls for comprehensive approaches to address the multifaceted issues surrounding gun safety. Important equity considerations for those working on gun safety include addressing the disproportionate impact of gun violence on marginalized and youth populations, ensuring access to resources and education about safe gun handling and storage practices for all demographics, and acknowledging the intersectionality of factors such as race, socioeconomic status, and geographic location in shaping individuals' experiences with firearms and gun safety measures.

Gun safety directly influences public health, community safety, and overall well-being. Effective gun policies can help prevent accidents and reduce the incidence of firearm-related violence contributing to a safer and more secure environment. Changemakers and stewards can influence gun safety at scale by advocating for evidence-based policies such as universal background checks without loopholes, instituting waiting periods, child access prevention laws, and bans on the sale of assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. At the local level, leaders can influence gun safety in the U.S. by establishing instant rebate programs for gun owners who purchase a trigger gun lock, distributing free trigger gun locks in local hospitals and clinics, and implementing gun buyback programs where guns can be turned into government entities. Community violence intervention (CVI) programs are also highly effective and emphasize people-centered approaches including hiring advocates and stakeholder who live and work in the communities they serve.