OHIO — According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, firearms contributed to the deaths of more children in the U.S. than any other type of injury, or illness in both 2020 and 2021.

What You Need To Know

  • Ohio has seen 19 unintentional shootings by children this year 

  • Five of the shootings resulted in death

  • Ohio State University released a study that explored how to minimize the risks of children harming themselves with a gun
  • The school found that kids that watched a gun safety video were more likely to tell an adult when they saw a gun and less likely to pick it up 

Last month, a man was indicted in Butler county after a 3 year old shot and killed himself back in April. He was charged for involuntary manslaughter, endangering children and reckless homicide. According to the website Every Town Research, Ohio has seen 19 unintentional shootings by children this year. Five resulted in death. 

The Ohio State University released a study that explored how to minimize the risks of children harming themselves. The study took 226 kids and split them into two groups.

While one group watched the gun safety video, the other group watched a car safety video. A week later, all the kids were brought back and put in a playroom where two disabled nine-millimeter guns were stored in an unlocked cabinet.

Researchers found while 96% of the kids found the gun, those who watched the gun safety video were less likely to touch the guns and three times more likely to tell an adult in comparison to the children who saw the car safety video. 

Sophie Kjærvik, a doctoral student who worked on the study, said there are other factors they hope to explore in order to get a better gauge on the findings.

“If the police officer was actually present in the room talking to a whole classroom, is that more or less effective than a gun safety video?” said Kjærvik. “Is it that it [the video] is provided in their home, on their laptops or on their phones that is working? Why is it working is basically one of the things that we would like to focus on in the future.” 

Research shows that gun owners talk more to their children than non-gun owners. While some parents do opt to show their children gun safety videos,  others take a hands-on approach.

Gerald Bayus Jr. teaches both parents and children about gun safety. He advises children to always find an adult when faced with what looks like a gun because toy guns or BB guns can look like the real thing. Whether you own a gun or not, Bayus encourages all parents to take a class with their kids because it can minimize curiosity and optimize knowledge.

“When you actually get to take a class or their parents or parents or somebody does work with them and allows them to shoot and handle a gun in a safe manner, you've satisfied that curiosity,” said Bayus. “Now they know if they see a gun that it's dangerous or could be dangerous and to go tell somebody and not have that desire or inquisitiveness to pick it up, touch it. Oh, is this a toy? Is this a real gun? You know, what to do with that? They know better.”

The Firearm Industry Trade Association has partnered with police departments throughout the state to offer free safety kits through the Project Child Safe Program. The kits include a cable style gun lock along with safety instructions.