Experts Urge Safe Gun Storage as School's Out
As children spend more time at home during school breaks, the risk of unintentional gun injuries increases if firearms are not safely stored, according to Eric Gonzalez, Program Coordinator for the Center for Community Health at Cook Children's Medical Center-Fort Worth.
“Hiding a gun under a mattress, in the closet, or on a high shelf is not safe storage,” Gonzalez explains. “Guns must be stored unloaded and locked away outside the reach of a child or teen.”
Gonzalez adds that safe storage can greatly contribute to reducing unauthorized use of firearms and gun violence among our youth.
Cook Children’s Medical Center-Fort Worth treated 40 gun-related injuries in fiscal year 2025 (October–September). During the fiscal year 2024, Cook Children treated 62 gun-related injuries.
June 6 marks National Gun Violence Awareness Day and the beginning of Wear Orange Weekend, a time dedicated to raising awareness about gun violence prevention and honoring victims.
“Summer especially is a great time to practice the 3 T’s of gun safety: Talk, Teach, and Take Action,” Gonzalez said.
Gonzalez and Dan Guzman, M.D., a pediatric emergency medicine physician and Medical Director of the Aim For Safety® program, work together to educate the community, primarily focusing on preventing unintentional gun injuries by encouraging safe gun storage. Dr. Guzman has seen and treated an unfortunate number of children injured or killed due to firearms. As a gun owner and parent, he understands the importance of safely securing firearms.
“I don't want to watch another child die as a result of a firearm,” Dr. Guzman said.
He emphasizes that the initiative is not about advocating for or against gun ownership; the focus is on providing people with the tools and resources to be safe around guns.
The Aim For Safety® program has provided education and resources to thousands across the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.
“We highlight how safe storage greatly reduces the risk of unintentional injuries, as well as how it contributes to keeping
children safe during mental health crises and reducing the risk of use for gun violence,” Gonzalez said.
Between October 2024 and April 2025 alone, the program provided 252 gun safes and 206 gun cable locks to the community. This is in addition to almost 1,000 gun cable locks provided to families in the emergency department over the last year.
“That’s a total of 458 families which now have tools to keep their families safe,” Gonzalez said.
Gonzalez explains that safety extends beyond firearms such as handguns and also includes air-powered guns such as BB, pellet, and paintball guns.
“Guns should never be used without a guardian’s permission and should only be used while an adult is supervising,” Gonzalez said.
Open Dialogue: Talking to Other Parents about Gun Safety
- Keep the conversation focused on safety, not on whether someone should or should not own a gun.
- Simply ask if there are firearms in the home and if so, are they properly stored (unloaded and locked with a cable lock or in a gun safe).
- If not, visit the Cook Children’s Aim For Safety website for tips on how to keep guns safely stored or for resources that we can offer to assist in safely storing the gun.
Aim for Safety in the Community
Aim for Safety will be out in the community throughout the summer:
- Defenderpalooza on July 12
- Fort Worth’s Premier Gun Show on August 23-24
- Scheels Great Outdoor Expo September 6-7
- If anyone is interested in a presentation, please reach out to eric.gonzalez@cookchildrens.org
Lives Impacted by Gun-Related Injuries and Prevention Efforts at Cook Children's
- In FY 2025, Cook Children’s Medical Center-Fort Worth has treated 40 gun-related injuries
- In FY 2024, Cook Children’s Medical Center-Fort Worth treated 62 gun-related injuries
- Most non-fatal injuries were caused by air-powered guns (BB guns, airsoft guns, paintball guns, etc.), while most severe or fatal injuries were caused by handguns.
- Between October 2024 and April 2025 alone, we provided 252 gun safes and 206 gun cable locks to the community through various events.
