Heads up... more BS on the way... and of course Seattle is there...  
Of course, no mention to the number of actual accidents and incidents with other potential hazards such as medicines, cleaning chemicals, electricity, fire, etc.

By MIKE STOBBE, Associated Press WriterTue Sep 6,12:38 PM ET About 1.7 million U.S. children live in homes that have loaded and unlocked guns, according to what is described as the first comprehensive survey of gun storage in homes across the country. The study, published Tuesday in the journal Pediatrics, found that 2.5 percent of children live in homes with loaded and unsecured firearms. Estimates from the early 1990s had put the percentage at 10 percent. The new results suggest a decline, but that doesn't mean there's cause for celebration, said Catherine Okoro, a study author. "That's still too many children to be put at risk," said Okoro, an epidemiologist with the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The study is based on a 2002 telephone survey of about 241,000 adults and is the first to provide data on gun storage in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, its authors said. Nationally, 33 percent of adults said they kept firearms in or around their home. The highest percentage was in Wyoming, where 63 percent said they had firearms. The lowest percentage was reported in the District of Columbia, where 5 percent reported having guns at home. The district has long-standing bans on handguns and semiautomatic weapons. A little more than 4 percent of the respondents nationally said they keep guns loaded and unlocked, and 2.5 percent reported having loaded, unlocked firearms in homes where children lived. Alabama had the highest proportion — 7.3 percent — of homes in which children lived and guns were kept loaded and unlocked. The next highest states were Alaska (6.6 percent), Arkansas (6.6 percent), Montana (6.4 percent) and Idaho (5.2 percent). At bottom was Massachusetts, with 0.3 percent. Researchers said they aren't certain why some states reported higher rates than others, but they believe people living in rural communities are most likely to have loaded guns in or around the house. That wouldn't explain why Alabama is No. 1, however, said Jim McVay of the Alabama Department of Public Health. "We have a hunting tradition in the Deep South, but there's no excuse for having loaded guns in the house," said McVay, director of the department's Bureau of Health Promotion & Chronic Disease. Okoro said she hoped the survey results will be used by state public health officials as they work on intervention programs to prevent firearm deaths. About 1,400 children are killed by firearms each year, according to CDC estimates. It's not known how many of those are killed by guns left around the house, the researchers said. But they noted a study published in a February issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association that showed safe gun storage may prevent deaths. The Seattle-based study found that in homes with guns, there were fewer incidents of shootings when guns were kept locked, unloaded and separated from ammunition.

I hate news articles about studies of any type. They are useless due to both the lack of any serious discussion of the methodology, and the fact that news media personnel generally are too stupid (or biased?) to convey the formal journal article's findings accurately. Of particular interest in this here would be knowing what they define "children" as. Obviously, it would be unadvisable to leave loaded guns available for young children not old enough to understand safe handling rules and the extreme risk present if one is reckless. I'd put a higher priority on SUPERVISING THE CHILDREN than cramming the guns in safes though. Most of the cases I've heard of involving young children being killed/injured by NDs have happened when the parents were not present to look out for their kids--same with most other injuries/deaths to children.

Something else that pisses me off is that they try to blame suicides on access to guns. WTF? I have guns around me all the time and they've never tried to shoot me. I do, however, know people that have attempted suicide and they'll do it ANYWAY THEY CAN, and if they're going to die, it's probably better that it is done efficiently and painlessly. I'd much rather die from being shot in the head than bleeding to death or overdosing!

I read somewhere that in Britain they are trying to ban knives that do not have blunt tips.   According to the new British "study" and some "experts" they pose an unecessary risk... believe it or not...  by the way... where Mr. Ripley?

I saw an article about that as well. It sure would be difficult to just ban assault, murder, and stealing and just enforce those laws, wouldn't it?h.gif

"That's still too many children to be put at risk," said Okoro, an epidemiologist with the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The study is based on a 2002 telephone survey of about 241,000 adults and is the first to provide data on gun storage in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, its authors said.

Very good reason  NOT do phone surveys whatsoever.. no matter how benign they may seem. I would hazzard a guess that they conducted this survey under the guise of "smoke alarm saftey" or some other unrelated topic and just kinda slipped those questions in there. I bet most people didn't even realize what information they were really giving out




Rebel Sharpshooter

LIBERAL=BS

Quoted: "That's still too many children to be put at risk," said Okoro, an epidemiologist with the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The study is based on a 2002 telephone survey of about 241,000 adults and is the first to provide data on gun storage in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, its authors said. Very good reason  NOT do phone surveys whatsoever.. no matter how benign they may seem. I would hazzard a guess that they conducted this survey under the guise of "smoke alarm saftey" or some other unrelated topic and just kinda slipped those questions in there. I bet most people didn't even realize what information they were really giving out Rebel Sharpshooter

The question is, who is ever home in the middle of the day to take those stupid surveys....

My problem is, they don't take into account the age of the children or the fact that they may actually know how to handle the guns.  Surveys never give adequate information for the amount of "statistics" they pull out of them.

Hahahah.....2.5 percent.  They should have asked how many of those parents took drugs, abused their children or spouses, smoked cigarettes, contained homes with lead paint, had attack dogs or were alcoholics.  2.5 is a very VERY low number and risk.  What a bunch of BS of the highest order.

Quoted: Hahahah.....2.5 percent.  They should have asked how many of those parents took drugs, abused their children or spouses, smoked cigarettes, contained homes with lead paint, had attack dogs or were alcoholics.  2.5 is a very VERY low number and risk.  What a bunch of BS of the highest order.

c'mon man...."If we can save just ONE child......"

Quoted: Quoted: Hahahah.....2.5 percent.  They should have asked how many of those parents took drugs, abused their children or spouses, smoked cigarettes, contained homes with lead paint, had attack dogs or were alcoholics.  2.5 is a very VERY low number and risk.  What a bunch of BS of the highest order.

c'mon man...."If we can save just ONE child......"

If that is not a troll comment, I don't know what is.

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Hahahah.....2.5 percent.  They should have asked how many of those parents took drugs, abused their children or spouses, smoked cigarettes, contained homes with lead paint, had attack dogs or were alcoholics.  2.5 is a very VERY low number and risk.  What a bunch of BS of the highest order. c'mon man...."If we can save just ONE child......" If that is not a troll comment, I don't know what is.

I would say dripping sarcasm!

Of course the number of shootings with unloaded guns, locked in a safe with ammo stored and locked separatly is way lower.  Duh...

By the time you need the gun it is way too late! After someone tried to come through my bedroom window at 3 am- I have a .357 in my nightstand and wouldn't have it any other way.

Although if I had 'young' children that would be a little more secure.