One out of every three homes with children in the U.S. has a firearm. Many of these firearms are kept unlocked or loaded. Children and teens are at the greatest risk of unintentional deaths, injuries and suicides from firearms. Young children are naturally curious. They explore in drawers, cabinets and closets. Some older children and teens are attracted to firearms and see them as signs of power. Each year in Washington state, about 70 deaths of children and teens involve a firearm. Most of these shootings occur in or around the home.
