Children and Handguns The Problem and Safety Considerations Hal W. Hendrick, Ph.D., CPE

The Problem The Problem One Young Child a day is killed in an unintentional shooting One Young Child a day is killed in an unintentional shooting

The Problem The Problem One Young Child a day is killed in an unintentional shooting One Young Child a day is killed in an unintentional shooting Over 4000 persons under 20 killed by handguns per year Over 4000 persons under 20 killed by handguns per year One Young Child a day is killed in an unintentional shooting One Young Child a day is killed in an unintentional shooting Over 4000 persons under 20 killed by handguns per year Over 4000 persons under 20 killed by handguns per year

The Problem The Problem One Young Child a day is killed in an unintentional shooting One Young Child a day is killed in an unintentional shooting Over 4000 persons under 20 killed by handguns per year Over 4000 persons under 20 killed by handguns per year An estimated 3% of these, or 1200, unintentionally. An estimated 3% of these, or 1200, unintentionally. One Young Child a day is killed in an unintentional shooting One Young Child a day is killed in an unintentional shooting Over 4000 persons under 20 killed by handguns per year Over 4000 persons under 20 killed by handguns per year An estimated 3% of these, or 1200, unintentionally. An estimated 3% of these, or 1200, unintentionally.

Underlying Causes: Exposure Underlying Causes: Exposure 35% of all US households with children have guns

Underlying Causes: Exposure Underlying Causes: Exposure v 35% of all US households with children have guns v Children in 54% of these households had access to unlocked guns. v 35% of all US households with children have guns v Children in 54% of these households had access to unlocked guns.

Underlying Causes: Exposure Underlying Causes: Exposure v 35% of all US households with children have guns v Children in 54% of these households had access to unlocked guns. v 6.2% of these households with children keep guns unlocked and loaded (that is 40,000 children exposed to loaded guns in the home in Oregon alone!) v 35% of all US households with children have guns v Children in 54% of these households had access to unlocked guns. v 6.2% of these households with children keep guns unlocked and loaded (that is 40,000 children exposed to loaded guns in the home in Oregon alone!)

Underlying Causes: Exposure Underlying Causes: Exposure v 35% of all US households with children have guns v Children in 54% of these households had access to unlocked guns. v 6.2% of these households with children keep guns unlocked and loaded (that is 40,000 children exposed to loaded guns in the home in Oregon alone!) v Typical tragic example I personally investigated: Boy shot his baby sister - Gun unlocked in parents bedside table, cartridge clip out, did not know a bullet still in the chamber; playfully pointed the gun at his sister and pulled the trigger! v 35% of all US households with children have guns v Children in 54% of these households had access to unlocked guns. v 6.2% of these households with children keep guns unlocked and loaded (that is 40,000 children exposed to loaded guns in the home in Oregon alone!) v Typical tragic example I personally investigated: Boy shot his baby sister - Gun unlocked in parents bedside table, cartridge clip out, did not know a bullet still in the chamber; playfully pointed the gun at his sister and pulled the trigger!

Underlying Causes: Unrealistic Parental Perceptions Underlying Causes: Unrealistic Parental Perceptions v Survey results: 28% of parents believe their child (under 12) could be trusted with a loaded gun! v 58% of survey group stored guns either loaded or unlocked. v Conclusion: The majority of parents underestimate the risk of injury from handguns to their children! v Survey results: 28% of parents believe their child (under 12) could be trusted with a loaded gun! v 58% of survey group stored guns either loaded or unlocked. v Conclusion: The majority of parents underestimate the risk of injury from handguns to their children!

Underlying Causes: Lack of handgun safety training Underlying Causes: Lack of handgun safety training v Most young children exposed to handguns in the home have had no handgun safety training.

Underlying Causes: Lack of handgun safety training Underlying Causes: Lack of handgun safety training v Most young children exposed to handguns in the home have had no handgun safety training. v Some adolescents do, but often taught by a parent who has had no handgun safety training (i.e., blind teaching the blind). v Most young children exposed to handguns in the home have had no handgun safety training. v Some adolescents do, but often taught by a parent who has had no handgun safety training (i.e., blind teaching the blind).

Underlying Causes: Lack of handgun safety training Underlying Causes: Lack of handgun safety training v Most young children exposed to handguns in the home have had no handgun safety training. v Some adolescents do, but often taught by a parent who has had no handgun safety training. v Where children (and adults) have had proper handgun safety training, incidents of unintentional discharge of a firearm are very low. v Most young children exposed to handguns in the home have had no handgun safety training. v Some adolescents do, but often taught by a parent who has had no handgun safety training. v Where children (and adults) have had proper handgun safety training, incidents of unintentional discharge of a firearm are very low.

Underlying Causes: Unsafe design - poor ergonomics Underlying Causes: Unsafe design - poor ergonomics v Inconsistent design of safeties (negative transfer of training).

Underlying Causes: Unsafe design - poor ergonomics Underlying Causes: Unsafe design - poor ergonomics v Inconsistent design of safeties (negative transfer of training). v Cartridge in the chamber with the magazine out of the gun. v Inconsistent design of safeties (negative transfer of training). v Cartridge in the chamber with the magazine out of the gun.

Underlying Causes: Unsafe design - poor ergonomics Underlying Causes: Unsafe design - poor ergonomics v Inconsistent design of safeties (negative transfer of training). v Cartridge in the chamber with the magazine out of the gun. v No positive indication of cartridge in the chamber. v Inconsistent design of safeties (negative transfer of training). v Cartridge in the chamber with the magazine out of the gun. v No positive indication of cartridge in the chamber.

Underlying Causes: Unsafe design - poor ergonomics Underlying Causes: Unsafe design - poor ergonomics v Inconsistent design of safeties (negative transfer of training). v Cartridge in the chamber with the magazine out of the gun. v No positive indication of cartridge in the chamber. v Large difference in trigger force between first and second shot (i.e., double versus single action). v Inconsistent design of safeties (negative transfer of training). v Cartridge in the chamber with the magazine out of the gun. v No positive indication of cartridge in the chamber. v Large difference in trigger force between first and second shot (i.e., double versus single action).

Underlying Causes: Unsafe design - poor ergonomics Underlying Causes: Unsafe design - poor ergonomics v Inconsistent design of safeties (negative transfer of training). v Cartridge in the chamber with the magazine out of the gun. v No positive indication of cartridge in the chamber. v Large difference in trigger force between first and second shot (i.e., double versus single action. v Hair trigger (tragic example I investigated). v Inconsistent design of safeties (negative transfer of training). v Cartridge in the chamber with the magazine out of the gun. v No positive indication of cartridge in the chamber. v Large difference in trigger force between first and second shot (i.e., double versus single action. v Hair trigger (tragic example I investigated).

Underlying Causes: Unsafe design - poor ergonomics Underlying Causes: Unsafe design - poor ergonomics v Inconsistent design of safeties (negative transfer of training). v Cartridge in the chamber with the magazine out of the gun. v No positive indication of cartridge in the chamber. v Large difference in trigger force between first and second shot (i.e., double versus single action). v Hair trigger v Uncomfortable to keep finger outside the trigger guard. v Inconsistent design of safeties (negative transfer of training). v Cartridge in the chamber with the magazine out of the gun. v No positive indication of cartridge in the chamber. v Large difference in trigger force between first and second shot (i.e., double versus single action). v Hair trigger v Uncomfortable to keep finger outside the trigger guard.

Underlying Causes: Unsafe design - poor ergonomics Underlying Causes: Unsafe design - poor ergonomics v Inconsistent design of safeties (negative transfer of training). v Cartridge in the chamber with the magazine out of the gun. v No positive indication of cartridge in the chamber. v Large difference in trigger force between first and second shot (i.e., double versus single action). v Hair trigger v v Uncomfortable to keep finger outside the trigger guard. v New technology to enable only the intended gun user to fire it not widely utilized. v Inconsistent design of safeties (negative transfer of training). v Cartridge in the chamber with the magazine out of the gun. v No positive indication of cartridge in the chamber. v Large difference in trigger force between first and second shot (i.e., double versus single action). v Hair trigger v v Uncomfortable to keep finger outside the trigger guard. v New technology to enable only the intended gun user to fire it not widely utilized.

What is Needed What is Needed v Legislation to require training.

What is Needed What is Needed v Legislation to require training. v Legislation/public education on importance of keeping firearms locked and unloaded in the home. v Legislation to require training. v Legislation/public education on importance of keeping firearms locked and unloaded in the home.

What is Needed What is Needed v Legislation to require training. v Legislation/public education on importance of keeping firearms locked and unloaded in the home. v Accessible training facilities. v Legislation to require training. v Legislation/public education on importance of keeping firearms locked and unloaded in the home. v Accessible training facilities.

What is Needed What is Needed v Legislation to require training. v Legislation/public education on importance of keeping firearms locked and unloaded in the home. v Accessible training facilities. v Certified training programs and instructors. v Legislation to require training. v Legislation/public education on importance of keeping firearms locked and unloaded in the home. v Accessible training facilities. v Certified training programs and instructors.

What is Needed What is Needed v Legislation to require training. v Legislation/public education on importance of keeping firearms locked and unloaded in the home. v Accessible training facilities. v Certified training programs and instructors. v Correct ergonomic safety deficiencies and standardize critical safety features. v Legislation to require training. v Legislation/public education on importance of keeping firearms locked and unloaded in the home. v Accessible training facilities. v Certified training programs and instructors. v Correct ergonomic safety deficiencies and standardize critical safety features.

Conclusion Conclusion v Through training, education, legislation, and application of ergonomics, unintentional deaths from handguns can be drastically reduced!