Guns are ALWAYS a threat. It's what they are.
http://www.dshs.wa.g.../ca/gunsafe.pdf
Firearm Deaths:
- Every seven and a half hours a child or teen is killed by a gun by either accident or suicide.
- From 1995 to 2000 an average of 4 to 5 children died every day in non homicide firearm incidents.
- From 1995 to 2000, more than 1,790 children were killed in firearm accidents.
- In each of the last 10 years an average of 1,323 kids committed suicide with a firearm; 155 were under 15 years of age.
Firearm Injuries:
- In 2001, there were 14,571 kids injured by a firearm.
- In 2001, 13,572 kids were injured by BB/pellet guns.
Firearm Ownership:
- 40% of American households have guns
- 34% of children in American homes live in homes with at least one firearm
Storage Practices:
- Among homes with children and firearms
- 28% do not always keep guns locked in a secure place
- 25% only "occasionally" lock and store the bullets separate from the gun
- 48% do not regularly make sure that guns are equipped with child safety and trigger locks
- In 30% of hand gun owning homes, the gun was stored unlocked and loaded at the time of the survey
Accessibility:
- In 72% of unintentional deaths and injuries, suicide and suicide attempts, the firearm was stored in the residence of the victim
- 47% of high school kids and 22% of middle school kids said they could get a gun
- 6% of high school kids said they had carried a gun to school within the last 30 days
- 72% of parents think their kids would not handle a gun without their permission.