Improving Safe Firearm Storage Using Behavioral Economics

Among 10- to 24-year-olds in the U.S., gun violence is the leading injury-related cause of death, including homicide, suicide, and death from unintentional injury. To reduce the risk for death or severe injury by firearm, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advocates a gun-free home. Second to that, if firearms are present in the home, clinicians should recommend to parents that firearms be unloaded, secured in a lockbox or with a locking device, and stored separately from ammunition. Despite these recommendations, over 4 million children are estimated to live in households with loaded and unlocked firearms.

In a special article in Pediatrics, authors argue that behavioral economic concepts should be used to encourage parents to adapt s…