Would you ever think of asking the parents of your child's best friend if they have a gun in their house? Most parents wouldn't fathom that their child could be harmed in such a way.

But every year, thousands of kids are injured or die from gunshot wounds. When there's a gun in the home, there's a greater risk of a child being shot by himself, his friends or a family member than being injured by an intruder.

Owning a gun comes with certain responsibilities. All gun owners must make sure that children don't have access to those guns.

Even kids who are trained not to touch guns sometimes can't resist playing with them, according to experts. Parents should understand this and keep guns out of reach.

Keeping firearms out of harm's way

• Never leave a loaded, unlocked gun in your house.
• Lock and store your guns and ammunition separately. Be sure to hide the keys where children cannot find them.
• Ask parents of your child's playmates if they have any firearms and how they are stored. No one wants to pry into someone else's household, but when it comes to the safety of your children, it's not prying, it's prudent.
• Teach your children never to touch guns without adult supervision and to tell an adult right away if they find one. This is easier said than done because kids are naturally curious about firearms. Start warning your children when they are preschoolers. Even most 3- and 4-year-olds have enough strength to pull the trigger of a handgun.
• Put trigger locks on all of your firearms. Gun safes, combination locks and magazine locks are some other choices for locking devices, experts say. Many accidental shootings could be prevented by a firearms safety device.
• If you own a gun, go to your local gunsmith or sporting goods store for a locking device. Choose a sturdy metal lock, not plastic, experts say.

Related Article Do Guns in the Home Increase Suicide Rates?

External Source American Academy of Pediatrics. Firearms injury prevention.

This article was reviewed and updated 08-01-2009.