Abstract
Today, the leading cause of death for American children is firearms. Tragically, many of these deaths result from suicides with unsecured guns in their own or a friend’s home. Others are due to homicides involving stolen guns. Most of these children might still be alive if those guns had been stored securely. So, how can we save lives?. We need a social movement for safe firearm storage. University of Minnesota anthropology professor Luther Gerlach studied movements like black power, pentecostalism, and environmental action, identifying five key elements in these social movements:
• A network of organizations that communicate but act independently.
• A way to recruit new members.
• A process to commit members to the cause.
• A clear ideology.
• Opposition to a real or perceived threat.
This framework could drive a secure firearm storage movement, just as it did for the smoke-free movement that now lets us dine, fly, and receive medical care without breathing tobacco smoke. Many pieces of this movement already exist. Organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics, Protect Minnesota, Moms Demand Action and Everytown are advocating for secure storage. Campaigns like Be SMART provide resources for parents, including text messages and videos on how to ask if firearms in another home are stored securely before a playdate or party. In his presentation, Dr. Kottke will discuss how nurses can become vectors for firearm safety in their work, in their homes, and in their communities.
Citation: Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Nursing Science and Practice. USG Proc J 1(Suppl 3): S52-S76.
