While the school year has started again, many children are continuing to learn virtually — and may not be attending classroom sessions for as long as they would be if they were going to school in person. 

Katherine Hoops, M.D., M.P.H., assistant professor of anesthesiology and critical care medicine, who specializes in pediatrics, says the pandemic has brought forth challenges in which many children are finding themselves with more unsupervised time at home than ever before. “Many children are still socially isolated and may be struggling with anxiety or depression,” she says.

During the pandemic, gun sales, especially among first-time buyers, have also surged. The FBI reports completing a record number of firearm background checks required to purchase a gun so far this year. March, June and July 2020 each had the most checks for one month on record. Hoops also says several large cities, such as New York City, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and Chicago, are reporting increases in gun-related violence.

Research shows that only about 46% of gun owners safely store all their guns. Safe gun storage has been proven to reduce suicide and unintentional injuries by teenagers, children and others.

“The safest home for children is a home without guns,” Hoops says. “But for homes where guns are present, at a minimum, guns should be stored unloaded and separate from ammunition.” Guns can also be stored with an external locking device, such as a cable lock, or by placing the unloaded gun into a locked gun safe.

Even as many people are quarantining, Hoops recommends going the extra step to ask friends and loved ones whose houses your children may visit about firearms in their homes and whether they are safely stored.

“All parents want their children to be safe and healthy,” Hoops says. “As we continue to take precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we must also remember to protect our children from other potential risks. Safely storing guns can keep children, teens and others from accessing guns and keep families from suffering a devastating loss.”