CAMDEN, NJ (KYW Newsradio) — Gun violence is the leading cause of death for children in the United States, and in light of National Public Health Week, Camden County officials are educating the community about safe gun storage.
Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows 700 kids die by suicide with a gun and about 350 children shoot themselves or someone else unintentionally every year. Additionally, nearly 40 percent of child gun deaths are suicides.
South Jersey gun safety advocacy group BeSMART suggests a gun lock or proper storage can reduce these numbers. David Austin with the advocacy group says hiding a gun is not the same as safely storing a gun. If you have a firearm, kids will find it.
"They will, if not seek it out deliberately, they will find it eventually and if that gun is unsecured and if it is unsecured and is loaded, there's a better chance that something terrible is going to happen as a result of them finding that gun," he said.
Austin adds parents need to start asking other parents about their storage habits before allowing their children to be in other homes.
A simple gun lock or safe can reduce the instances of suicide simply by slowing down the impulse. Camden County Commissioner Virginia Betteridge says adults must understand the responsibility of locking up firearms in the home.
"When Covid hit, we the public health workers were the first Frontline people,” she said. “This is our job also, to bring this awareness to the community to know that gun safety is a public health crisis."
Gun safety officials stress any option can help save a life.