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Educate Gun Owners of Risks

    Educate Gun Owners of Risks

      What is the problem?

      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.

      Which states require gun buyers to have firearm training?

      9 states have adopted this policy

      AL AK AZ AR CA CO CT DE FL GA HI ID IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MD MA MI MN MS MO MT NE NV NH NJ NM NY NC ND OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VT VA WA WV WI WY

      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 not 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

      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 locked, unloaded, 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

      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.

      Featured Resources

      Educate Gun Owners of Risks

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      Did you know?

      Access to a gun triples the risk of death by suicide.

      Anglemyer, Horvath, and Rutherford, “The Accessibility of Firearms and Risk for Suicide and Homicide Victimization Among Household Members: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis,” Ann. Intern. Med. (2014).