The Reference Committee recommends this be adopted as new ArMA Policy.

Does the resolution address a current need? This addresses a current need because the resolution responds to an ongoing pediatric injury and mortality issue and proposes prevention strategies—safe storage counseling, locking devices, and supportive legislation—that remain directly relevant to Arizona physicians and families.

Is it directly applicable to the healthcare community?  Yes. It is directly applicable to the healthcare community because it calls on physicians and healthcare professionals to provide firearm safety counseling, supports public health distribution of locking devices, and frames safe storage as a pediatric injury-prevention issue squarely within clinical and public health practice.

Does it reflect emerging healthcare trends?  Yes. It reflects emerging healthcare trends because it treats firearm injury as a preventable public health issue, emphasizes routine clinician counseling and behavioral-risk intervention, and supports evidence-based safe-storage policies and community partnerships—approaches that align with how healthcare organizations are increasingly addressing pediatric injury prevention and upstream risk reduction.

Is it within ArMA's or the AMA's scope to accomplish? Yes. It is within ArMA’s scope because ArMA’s bylaws charge its Legislative & Government Affairs Committee and Public Health Committee with developing advocacy positions on physician, patient, and public health issues, and ArMA already has policies supporting firearm harm research, physician/public education, and legislation on comparable health issues.

Whereas, firearm-related injuries are a leading cause of death among children and adolescents in the United States, surpassing motor vehicle crashes in recent years; and

Whereas, a substantial proportion of unintentional firearm injuries and deaths among children occur in the home and involve firearms that are stored, loaded and/or unlocked; and

Whereas, studies consistently demonstrate that safe storage practices—such as keeping firearms locked, unloaded, and separate from ammunition—are associated with significantly reduced risks of unintentional injury, suicide, and unauthorized access by children; and

Whereas, children and adolescents are developmentally predisposed to curiosity and risk-taking behaviors, increasing the likelihood of accessing unsecured firearms; and

Whereas, evidence-based interventions, including the use of locking devices (e.g., trigger locks, cable locks, lockboxes, and gun safes), have been shown to increase safe storage behaviors among firearm owners; and

Whereas, counseling by healthcare professionals on firearm safety and secure storage has been demonstrated to improve safe storage practices when paired with provision of locking devices; and

Whereas, multiple professional medical organizations recommend safe firearm storage as a critical component of injury prevention and public health; and

Whereas, state-level safe storage or child access prevention (CAP) laws are associated with reductions in unintentional firearm deaths and suicides among children and adolescents; therefore, be it

Resolved that ArMA:

1. Supports legislation and policies that require safe storage of firearms, including the use of locking devices or secured storage, particularly in homes where children or adolescents are present.
2. Advocates for laws that hold firearm owners accountable for negligent storage practices that allow unauthorized access by minors.
3. Encourages healthcare professionals to counsel patients and families on safe firearm storage practices as part of routine preventive care and in cases where there are high risk individuals in the home.
4. Supports public health initiatives that promote distribution of firearm locking devices and education on safe storage.
5. Calls for continued research funding to evaluate the effectiveness of safe storage laws and interventions in reducing firearm-related injuries and deaths among children.
6. Collaborates with community organizations, schools, and policymakers to promote awareness of the importance of secure firearm storage.

References:

1.        Faust et al, Firearm Laws and Pediatric Mortality in the United States, Aug 2025, JAMA Pediatrics,

2. Cunningham RM, Walton MA, Carter PM. The major causes of death in children and adolescents in the United States. New England Journal of Medicine. 2018;379(25):2468–2475.
3. Grossman DC, Mueller BA, Riedy C, et al. Gun storage practices and risk of youth suicide and unintentional firearm injuries. JAMA. 2005;293(6):707–714.
4. Monuteaux MC, Azrael D, Miller M. Association of increased safe household firearm storage with firearm suicide and unintentional death among US youths. JAMA Pediatrics.2019;173(7):657–662.
5. Azad HA, Monuteaux MC, Rees CA, et al.
   Child access prevention firearm laws and firearm fatalities among children aged 0–14 years in the United States. JAMA Pediatrics. 2020.
6. Miller et al, Child Access Prevention Laws and Firearm Storage: Results From a National Survey, Am J of Prev Med 2022
7. Barkin SL, Finch SA, Ip EH, et al. Is office-based counseling about media use, timeouts, and firearm storage effective? Results from a cluster-randomized trial. Pediatrics. 2008;122(1):e15–e25.
8. Rowhani-Rahbar A, Simonetti JA, Rivara FP. Effectiveness of interventions to promote safe firearm storage. Epidemiologic Reviews. 2016;38(1):111–124.
9. Chaudhary et al, Reducing Firearm Access for Youth at Risk in the Pediatric Emergency Department, Front Public Health, May 2024
10. American Academy of Pediatrics. Firearm-related injuries affecting the pediatric population. Pediatrics. Policy statement.
11. Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
    Child access prevention firearm storage laws reduce youth suicide rates.
    Published January 23, 2025.
12. Giffords Law Center. Child Access Prevention Laws in the United States. Policy analysis reports.
13. Grossman et al, Gun Storage Practices and Risk of Youth Suicide and Unintentional Firearm Injuries, JAMA, Feb 9, 2005