More than half of parents nationwide say it has never occurred to them to ask about the presence of guns where their children play.
A simple question could save your child’s life. It’s not
a politically motivated question. It’s not a judgmental question. It’s not a
question designed to shame anyone. It’s simply a question to help protect your
child.
“Is there an unlocked, loaded gun in the homes where my
child plays?”
You wouldn’t feel uncomfortable asking about pets in the
home, or letting a parent know about a food allergy your child has before
sending them over to play, so it should not make you uncomfortable to ask this
question, too.
It may surprise you to know that there are guns in one in
three homes in America. More surprising is that nearly 1.7 million children
live in homes in which guns are loaded and unlocked. Because of the unlocked
guns, thousands of children die from accidental gun shots each year in our
country. Many more are also injured.
ASK campaign
The Asking Saves Kids (ASK) campaign was started by a St.
Louis mother who lost her 3-year-old year old son, Markie, to a gunshot wound. Markie
was shot (accidentally) by an 11-year-old child who found a gun in the closet.
When Markie entered the room, he surprised the older boy, and the gun went off.
Two families will never be the same again. And it could
have been prevented.
It is estimated by the ASK campaign (and supported by
data at the CDC) that nine children and teens are shot each day in the United
States in accidental shootings. Those are only the reported injuries and
deaths.
Child safety
Every day as parents, we make very rational choices
regarding our kid’s safety — we buckle their seatbelts, make them wear bicycle
helmets, and limit their TV time. But when it comes to gun safety, we are often
not taking the same logical approach with our loved ones. More than half of
parents nationwide say it has never occurred to them to ask about the presence
of guns where their children play.
We share tips between parents all the time about how to
keep our children healthy and safe. Gun safety should be a part of the
conversation. Any and all parents can help keep children safe by participating
in the ASK campaign, and by encouraging their friends and neighbors to do the
same.
Avoid
confrontation
Every parent cares about the safety of their children. We
are all in this together, and none of us would wish a scenario like the one
described above on anyone else. It may feel very awkward for you to ask someone
about guns in their home, but do not let that dissuade you. Try to ask in
normal conversation, and avoid being confrontational. After all, you’re not
indicting them, you’re just inquiring for the safety of your child.
Asking the
question
When you drop your child to play at another child’s
house, ask the parent “Is there an unlocked gun in the house?” If the parent is
upset by the question, or responds in a manner such as “It’s not your
business,” perhaps reconsider allowing your child to play in this home. It is your business if there is an unlocked
gun where your child plays. If the parent answers that it is hidden, that is
also not good enough. Children find things.
Tools to help
The ASK Campaign is a collaboration with the American
Academy of Pediatrics and the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence. The campaign
provides tools and support to help parents and caregivers ask the question
without feeling so awkward about it. Visit askingsaveskids.org for some
excellent resources and more information on how you can make a difference, too.
Alexa Bigwarfe is
the mother to three young children. She is a strong advocate for all things
related to children’s safety and health issues.