Parents who own guns are far more likely to discuss firearm safety with their children, according to recently released poll results from a University of Michigan hospital.
Of the more than 1,600 parents who participated in the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health, approximately one-third of those with children 5-17 years old reported having a gun in the home. Although 82 percent of those who owned guns discussed firearm safety with their children — most within the past year — only 48 percent of those who did not own guns had similar discussions.
The survey also found that 24 percent of parents who did not own a gun are “very worried” their child could suffer a gun injury in a friend’s home, compared with 10 percent of gun owners.
“Parents need to learn how to talk to their children about gun safety, whether they own a gun or not, to be sure their children are prepared should they ever encounter a situation where a gun is present,” said Matthew Davis, associate professor of pediatric and internal medicine at Ann Arbor-based U-M.
U-M also offers information on gun safety and children.
