Newtown, CT -(AmmoLand.com)- The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) is pleased to report that unintentional firearm fatalities reached their lowest level ever, according to the latest data from the National Safety Council’s just-released Injury Facts Report 2018.
NSSF, as the trade association for the firearm industry and leading proponent of safe gun handling and storage, applauded the report, which shows fatal firearm accidents at their lowest level since record-keeping began in 1903. The firearm industry has for the last two decades provided more than 100 million firearm locking devices with new firearms sold and through its award-winning Project ChildSafe program—the largest and most comprehensive firearm safety program in the country. The industry’s educational materials are widely distributed to gun owners by firearm manufacturers, retailers, instructors and others nationwide.
“As an industry that prioritizes firearm safety, it is extremely good news to see this record decline in gun-related accidents,” said Joe Bartozzi, NSSF’s President and CEO. “It’s gratifying to know that our industry’s gun safety efforts, including our long-running Project ChildSafe firearm safety education program, are contributing to helping save lives.”
With approximately 100 million gun owners in the country, the data demonstrates that firearms can be safely owned and used and accidents prevented as long as secure storage guidelines are followed. “Securely storing firearms when not in use is the No. 1 way to help prevent accidents, thefts and misuse,” said Bartozzi.
The National Safety Council data showed that for 2018 there were 458 firearm fatalities, accounting for less than 1 percent of unintentional fatalities from all principal causes. In the last two decades (1998-2018) accidental firearm deaths have declined by 47 percent. “Even one accidental firearm fatality is one too many,” said Bartozzi. “We’re aiming for zero, and this is great progress.”
With reports of many people purchasing their first firearm due to safety concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic, Bartozzi reminds new gun owners to use the safety device that came packaged with their new firearm when their gun is not under their direct control, to strongly consider using an additional safety device such as a lock box or lockable gun case, and to take advantage of the many gun safety resources at ProjectChildSafe.org, such as this video on the 10 commandments of firearm safety.
Also, with so many children at home because of COVID-19-related school closures, Bartozzi encourages parents to take time to have “the talk” with their kids about gun safety and to use tools such as the McGruff on Gun Safety videos and a video on how parents can talk to their children about gun safety on the Project ChildSafe website.
Learn more at ProjectChildSafe.org.
About NSSF
The National Shooting Sports Foundation is the trade association for the firearms industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of more than 11,000 manufacturers, distributors, firearms retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s organizations and publishers. For more information, visit nssf.org.
The sales of weapons has exploded in the past few years, yet the accidental shooting decrease, the exact opposite of what the gun control crowd wants you to believe.
Well wadda ya know?
I have a nephew who, in 1982 at the age three, pulled out his father’s dresser drawer’s to make a stairway to the top, where he and his year older brother got hold of a .357 magnum. In their efforts to figure it out, it went off. The bullet traveled down his little thigh, and exited out the heel of his right foot. He lived, but now has a distinguishable limp to contend with for the rest of his life. During this time trigger locks were virtually unheard of. LE investigated, and concluded there was no malice and my sister… Read more »
What was he doing in his Fathers dresser anyway? My kids were taught if it doesn’t belong to you leave it alone. I kept my duty weapon in my top drawer loaded at all times. My kids knew it was there and they never asked about it. They were told it didn’t belong to them and to leave it alone.
The problem is not the gun, it’s teaching your kid to have respect for others property.
@Cruiser —
They were looking for that gun: the same one they had seen their father put away many times before, but too young to comprehend it dangers despite being repeatedly told of them. Sad all around. The lesson we all took away from that day is that kids are curious by nature, and will always be kids to expect the unexpected because of it.
When you say “duty weapon,” I take it you are either former or current LE?
@StWayne – So much for claims that heavy triggers make guns safe.
Sorry for your nephew, would that serious harm never befalls any small children – or for that matter anyone innocent of wrong doing.