Who holds the keys

The 15 minutes

1. 2 min Say why: "A lock is only as good as the person who can open it. And a firearm is stored somewhere every minute it is not in use: the car and the garage count too."
2. 6 min Read the source lines below aloud. Name who said each one.
3. 4 min Talk through the questions. There are no wrong answers here.
4. 3 min Agree one change for this home, and who will make it by when.

Read aloud

• "Make sure children and teens can't access the keys or combinations to lock boxes or gun safes." (AAP)
• "Do not share the combination or location of keys to the safe or lockbox with your child." (AAP)
• "Store guns so they are not accessible to unauthorized persons." (NRA)
• "Even if experienced with firearms, young people should only handle them with adult permission and supervision." (AAP)
• "And remember not to keep loaded, unlocked guns in the car, or anywhere else on your property, either." (AAP)

Talk it through

• Is this true in our home today? "Only the adults who are allowed to open the storage know the combination or where the key is."
• Is this true in our home today? "The key is not kept next to the safe, on a hook by the door or in an unlocked drawer nearby."
• Is this true in our home today? "Firearms are not left loaded and unlocked in a vehicle, garage, shed or anywhere else on the property."
• What would make it hard to keep this up, and what would make it easy?

Questions and answer key

1. The AAP says children and teens should not be able to access...
   Answer: the keys or combinations to lock boxes or gun safes
2. What does the AAP say about loaded, unlocked guns in the car?
   Answer: Do not keep them there, or anywhere else on your property
3. The NRA rule about storage is to store guns so they are...
   Answer: not accessible to unauthorized persons
4. A 16-year-old in the home has hunted for years. What does the AAP say about young people handling firearms?
   Answer: Only with adult permission and supervision, even if experienced
5. Project ChildSafe says storage should mean a firearm cannot be handled by...
   Answer: anyone without your permission
6. The lock box is locked, and its key hangs on a hook beside it. Does that match the AAP guidance?
   Answer: No: children and teens must not be able to reach the key