Arizona Health Officials Urge Families to Ditch Guns for Safer Homes

By Staff Reporter |

The Arizona Department of Health Services (AZDHS) has issued a strong call for the removal of firearms from homes with children, as outlined in its latest Arizona Child Fatality Review Program (CFRP) report. Released last month, this annual report aims to guide policy decisions and encourage state intervention regarding child safety.

According to the report, the most effective means to prevent childhood firearm-related deaths is to eliminate the presence of guns in households with minors. “The presence of firearms in a household increases the risk of suicide among adolescents,” emphasized the report’s opening letter. It encouraged parents, particularly those with adolescents facing mental health or substance use challenges, to ensure all firearms are removed from their homes. Additionally, the CFRP urged all gun owners to practice safe storage methods by keeping firearms unloaded and securely locked away from ammunition.

The report advocates for comprehensive measures, including mandatory mental health screenings and gun safety training for prospective firearm purchasers, as well as improved licensing and tracking of firearms. Furthermore, it emphasizes the importance of punishing individuals who fail to report stolen firearms.

To strengthen awareness, the report suggests launching public campaigns aimed at educating families about the risks of keeping firearms in homes with children.

Last year, nearly 70 minors died from preventable firearm injuries, with 44 percent of these cases classified as suicides. Most fatalities occurred among older children aged 15-17, and 84 percent of the victims were male. The leading risk factors associated with these tragedies included access to firearms, a history with child protective services, substance use, and unsecured firearms.

While firearm injuries remain a significant concern, they are not the leading cause of preventable deaths among Arizona’s youth; that unfortunate distinction goes to motor vehicle crashes, which accounted for 81 deaths. Other notable causes included suffocation, poisoning, and drowning.

Dr. Mary Rimsza, a pediatrician and chairwoman of the CFRP, penned the report’s introductory letter advocating for the removal of firearms from homes with children. Rimsza, also a professor at Mayo Graduate School of Medicine and Arizona State University, has been an outspoken advocate for public health measures during the COVID-19 pandemic and has addressed various health issues affecting children.

Rimsza’s advocacy extends beyond child safety; her social media presence reflects a broader commitment to social justice issues, including the impact of racism on children’s health, as stated by the American Academy of Pediatrics.