Educate Gun Owners of Risks
What does it solve?
It is critical that gun buyers and permit applicants are given safety information. Requiring gun dealers to inform purchasers of the risks associated with firearms allows buyers to make educated decisions about owning and storing guns and is a meaningful step towards preventing gun violence.
Gun owners and those contemplating buying guns should learn about the risks associated with guns, including that the presence of a gun in the home significantly increases the risk of suicide, homicide, death during domestic violence disputes, and unintentional deaths to children and household members. Gun owners should also be educated on relevant secure storage laws and best practices for storing a gun securely.
Training Required to Purchase Guns
Which states require gun buyers to have firearm training?
Training Required to Purchase Guns
Alabama has not adopted this policy
Training Required to Purchase Guns
Alaska has not adopted this policy
Training Required to Purchase Guns
Arizona has not adopted this policy
Training Required to Purchase Guns
Arkansas has not adopted this policy
Training Required to Purchase Guns
California has adopted this policy
Training Required to Purchase Guns
Colorado has not adopted this policy
Training Required to Purchase Guns
Connecticut has adopted this policy
Training Required to Purchase Guns
Delaware has adopted this policy
Training Required to Purchase Guns
Florida has not adopted this policy
Training Required to Purchase Guns
Georgia has not adopted this policy
Training Required to Purchase Guns
Hawaii has adopted this policy
Training Required to Purchase Guns
Idaho has not adopted this policy
Training Required to Purchase Guns
Illinois has not adopted this policy
Training Required to Purchase Guns
Indiana has not adopted this policy
Training Required to Purchase Guns
Iowa has not adopted this policy
Training Required to Purchase Guns
Kansas has not adopted this policy
Training Required to Purchase Guns
Kentucky has not adopted this policy
Training Required to Purchase Guns
Louisiana has not adopted this policy
Training Required to Purchase Guns
Maine has not adopted this policy
Training Required to Purchase Guns
Maryland has adopted this policy
Training Required to Purchase Guns
Massachusetts has adopted this policy
Training Required to Purchase Guns
Michigan has not adopted this policy
Training Required to Purchase Guns
Minnesota has not adopted this policy
Training Required to Purchase Guns
Mississippi has not adopted this policy
Training Required to Purchase Guns
Missouri has not adopted this policy
Training Required to Purchase Guns
Montana has not adopted this policy
Training Required to Purchase Guns
Nebraska has not adopted this policy
Training Required to Purchase Guns
Nevada has not adopted this policy
Training Required to Purchase Guns
New Hampshire has not adopted this policy
Training Required to Purchase Guns
New Jersey has adopted this policy
Training Required to Purchase Guns
New Mexico has not adopted this policy
Training Required to Purchase Guns
New York has not adopted this policy
Training Required to Purchase Guns
North Carolina has not adopted this policy
Training Required to Purchase Guns
North Dakota has not adopted this policy
Training Required to Purchase Guns
Ohio has not adopted this policy
Training Required to Purchase Guns
Oklahoma has not adopted this policy
Training Required to Purchase Guns
Oregon has adopted this policy
Training Required to Purchase Guns
Pennsylvania has not adopted this policy
Training Required to Purchase Guns
Rhode Island has adopted this policy
Training Required to Purchase Guns
South Carolina has not adopted this policy
Training Required to Purchase Guns
South Dakota has not adopted this policy
Training Required to Purchase Guns
Tennessee has not adopted this policy
Training Required to Purchase Guns
Texas has not adopted this policy
Training Required to Purchase Guns
Utah has not adopted this policy
Training Required to Purchase Guns
Vermont has not adopted this policy
Training Required to Purchase Guns
Virginia has not adopted this policy
Training Required to Purchase Guns
Washington has adopted this policy
Training Required to Purchase Guns
West Virginia has not adopted this policy
Training Required to Purchase Guns
Wisconsin has not adopted this policy
Training Required to Purchase Guns
Wyoming has not adopted this policy
Myth & Fact
Myth
Requiring dealers to provide this information violates freedom of speech.
Fact
Requiring firearm dealers to provide warnings about the risks associated with firearms is a means of promoting safety and does not infringe on free speech. No constitutional challenge to such a requirement has been upheld by any court.
How it works
Educating gun purchasers of the risks of owning firearms.
Access to a firearm significantly increases the risk of death by suicide, domestic dispute, homicide, and unintentional gunshot. Consumers should be informed of these risks prior to purchasing a firearm. They should also be informed about the importance of responsible firearm storage. Storing your guns unloaded, locked, and separate from ammunition can reduce the risk of self-inflicted and unintentional death and injury among children and teens. Gun buyers should also be provided with contact information for suicide prevention support services at the point of sale.
There is no federal requirement that firearm dealers provide purchasers with information about firearms. States can and should require dealers to provide information to potential purchasers about proper storage techniques and the risks associated with firearm access. Local governments can also require firearm dealers to provide this information to gun purchasers—such a requirement is generally not preempted by state preemption laws.
By the numbers
3x
Access to a gun triples the risk of death by suicide.
85%
Households that lock both guns and ammunition are associated with an 85% risk reduction for unintentional gun injury among children compared to those that locked neither.
78%
Households that lock both guns and ammunition are associated with a 78% risk reduction for self-inflicted gun injury among children compared to those that locked neither.
2x