Firearm Safety and Secure Storage for Families

An independent educational resource prepared by Mark M. Simonian, MD, FAAP

Sources checked: August 10, 2026     |     Medical review completed: August 10, 2026

This page is for general education only and does not replace individualized medical advice. This resource does not establish a doctor-patient relationship. For questions about your own child, contact your child's current healthcare professional.

Magnolia Pediatrics, Valley Children's Healthcare

2497 E. Herndon Avenue, Suite 101, Clovis, CA 93611     |     559-538-3070

This is a child-safety page, not a judgment about firearm ownership. The goal is simple: prevent a child or teen from finding or accessing a firearm during play, curiosity, conflict, or an emotional crisis. The safest home for children is one without firearms. If firearms are kept, secure storage is essential.

Urgent Safety Actions - Check This First

A firearm injury, an unsecured firearm in reach of a child, or concern that someone may harm themselves or another person requires immediate action. Move away from danger, keep others away, and get emergency help.

CALL 911 NOW

  • Any gunshot injury, even if the wound appears small or bleeding seems limited

  • A child has found, is holding, or can access a loaded or unsecured firearm; do not try to take it away if doing so could put you or the child at risk—move others away and call 911

  • Immediate danger that someone may use a firearm to harm themselves or another person, or a firearm is present during violence, threats, severe intoxication, or an escalating crisis

GET EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE NOW

  • A child or teen has been struck, threatened, or injured by a firearm, pellet gun, BB gun, air gun, or a gun-related explosion

  • A firearm has discharged unintentionally, even if no injury is obvious; make sure the area is safe and seek emergency assistance

  • Any possible injury to the eye, head, neck, chest, abdomen, or genital area from a projectile or firearm-related event

CONTACT YOUR CHILD'S HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL TODAY

  • A child has talked about suicide, self-harm, or harming someone else; is showing major depression, hopelessness, or dangerous impulsive behavior; or access to firearms is a concern

  • A child has found an unsecured firearm, seen violence involving a firearm, or has ongoing fear, sleep problems, behavior changes, or distress after a gun-related event

  • You need help making a confidential family safety plan, finding a lock or lockbox, or discussing safe storage during a mental-health, substance-use, domestic-violence, or other high-risk period

Secure Storage: The Essential Rules

  • Keep every firearm locked and unloaded when it is not under the active control of an authorized user.

  • Keep ammunition locked in a separate location. Children and teens should not know where keys are kept or know lockbox, safe, or cabinet combinations.

  • Use a locked gun safe, firearm cabinet, lockbox, cable lock, trigger lock, or another secure locking device appropriate for the firearm. Store the key or combination separately and securely.

  • Out of sight or out of reach is not safe storage. A drawer, closet, nightstand, purse, backpack, vehicle, or hiding place is not secure storage.

  • Check storage every time a firearm is returned to the home, after visitors leave, before travel, and whenever children or teenagers will be present.

Teaching Children Is Not a Substitute for Storage

Teach children never to touch a firearm: leave the area and tell a trusted adult. But do not rely on a child's instruction, maturity, curiosity, or past behavior to prevent access. Secure storage by adults is the prevention step that protects children when supervision fails or circumstances change.

Ask Before Playdates and Visits

  • Before a child visits another home, it is reasonable to ask: 'Are there any firearms in the home, and are they locked and unloaded with ammunition locked separately?'

  • Ask the same question for homes of relatives, neighbors, caregivers, and families your child visits regularly. The question is about safety, not judgment.

  • If safe storage is uncertain, choose another location for play or stay with your child. Do not assume that a child knows whether a firearm is present or stored safely.

During Emotional or Safety Crises

  • If a child, teen, or adult is in crisis, temporarily remove firearms and ammunition from the home whenever possible and lawful, or ensure they are inaccessible to the person at risk. Make a specific plan with trusted adults and professionals.

  • For an immediate risk of harm, call 911. For urgent emotional support, suicide concerns, or help making a safety plan when there is not immediate danger, call or text 988 or use the 988 Lifeline chat service.

  • If there is domestic violence, threats, or coercive control, prioritize getting to safety and seek specialized support. Do not attempt to secure or remove a firearm if it could increase danger.

Families Who Use Firearms

  • Keep firearms secured whenever they are not in direct authorized use. Do not leave a firearm unattended during cleaning, hunting preparation, target practice, travel, or storage.

  • Never mix firearms with alcohol, cannabis, sedating medicines, or other impairing substances.

  • Review local laws, manufacturer instructions, and safe-storage options. Consider firearms safety training for adults, while recognizing that adult training does not replace locked, unloaded storage.

Related Guides

  • Child Safety Checklist: Infants and Young Children

  • Anxiety, Panic, and Worry in Children: When to Seek Help

  • Attention, Hyperactivity, and Focus Concerns: When to Seek Help

  • Home Fire, Carbon Monoxide, and Emergency Safety

Sources and Medical Review