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Recursos que encontrará en esta página:

Recursos generales sobre armas de fuego y seguridad infantil

Si desea obtener más información sobre las armas de fuego y cómo proteger a los niños, puede encontrar útiles los siguientes recursos:

  • El Proyecto ChildSafe sitio web, que contiene información y muchos recursos sobre la seguridad de las armas de fuego para niños
  • Nemours’ pediatric health system’s page on firearm safety (English/Spanish)
  • La página de Seattle Children's (aquí) on firearms in the home (available in multiple languages)

¿Cómo uso un candado de cable para armas de fuego?

We hope that you will find the cable firearm lock useful and effective, whether you took one from your pediatric clinic or received or purchased one elsewhere. Please find detailed instructions for how to install the cable lock on various types of firearms here (English, Spanish).

Additionally, below are links to quick (one-minute) videos published by Big Waves Inc., a firearm storage organization, that demonstrate how to use a cable lock on several different types of firearms. As a reminder, many health clinics and governmental organizations have cable locks available to families free of charge. For more information, please see “Where can I get free firearm locks” on this page.

¿Dónde puedo encontrar candados para armas de fuego gratis?

Many places provide provide free cable firearm locks or other firearm locking mechanisms, including health clinics and local organizations.

  • Ask your pediatrician’s office if they are distributing free locks to patients’ families. They may also know which local organizations also offer free locks.
  • The Illinois Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (ICAAP) also offers this guide on where you can find free cable firearm locks across Illinois.
  • The Illinois Department of Public Health partners with many community organizations to distribute free cable locks. If you represent a local health department or community organization that is interested in offering free cable locks to your community, you can request to do so (aquí).  
  • If you are a service member, veteran, or family member, you can receive a free cable lock from a local US Department of Veterans Affairs office. 
  • If you would like to find additional free firearm locks near you, you can use Project ChildSafe’s herramienta de búsqueda.
  • If you are unable to find free firearm locks using the resources above, please feel free to contact our research team at: I2Iteam@northwestern.edu

¿Qué otras opciones tengo para asegurar un arma de fuego?

Cable firearm locks may not be appropriate for all firearms or for all purposes. Those who keep a firearm in home for self-defense, for example, may be worried about the cable lock impeding their ability to quickly access their firearm. Fortunately, there are many different devices that can be used to secure firearms which offer different degrees of security and ease of access. These devices range in price and are designed to meet the various needs of firearm owners.

Para obtener información sobre varias opciones diferentes de bloqueo de armas de fuego y sus ventajas y desventajas, haga clic (aquí).

¿Cómo hablo con mis hijos sobre la seguridad con las armas de fuego?

For some caregivers, talking to kids about firearm safety can feel very daunting. It can feel uncomfortable to share this information with someone so young, or as if talking with kids about firearms could do more harm than good.   

Despite the difficulty of these conversations, it is important to talk to your kids about firearm safety, whether you own a firearm, or not. Young people may be curious if or when they find a gun in your home or in the home of a relative or friend. To make sure they stay safe in these situations, it is essential that all children and teens learn the basics of firearm safety. Here some tips for what to say to your kids to prepare them:

  • Si encuentra un arma, NO la toque. Dile a un adulto seguro de inmediato.
  • Incluso cuando un arma parece un juguete, NO la toque. Un arma real puede parecer como una pistola de juguete. Por si acaso, díselo a un adulto seguro de inmediato.

Para obtener más información, consulte este hoja de consejos de Safe Kids Worldwide, un programa fundado por Children's National Hospital en Washington, DC; y esto sitio web from the National Crime Prevention Council. Please also see this video, made by Project ChildSafe and the National Shooting Sports Foundation.

¿Cómo hablo con otros padres y cuidadores sobre las armas de fuego en sus hogares?

Kids may be curious if they find a gun when visiting friends or relatives. To make sure that your child will not have access to firearms on play dates or family visits, it can be helpful to have a conversation with the adult(s) in the home. If you’re not sure how to bring this up, please see the below resources.

  • The Illinois Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (ICAAP) has this volantes about how to talk about firearm safety with other parents and caregivers.
  • The National Crime Prevention Council has recommendations for how to have these conversations (aquí).

Why is it important to store firearms so children and teens can’t access them without permission?

While children and teens can certainly know and learn how to handle firearms responsibly, it is still important to store firearms so that they cannot access them without permission. If children and teens are able to access firearms without your permission and/or do not know how to handle them properly, accidents can occur. Esta investigación ha encontrado que:

  • 3 de cada 4 niños de 5 a 14 años sabían dónde se escondían las armas de fuego en el hogar, pero el 39% de sus padres pensaron erróneamente que su hijo no conocía la ubicación de las armas de fuego
  • 1 de cada 3 niños de 5 a 14 años habían manejado un arma de fuego en el hogar, pero el 22% de sus padres pensaron erróneamente que su hijo nunca había manejado un arma de fuego
  • A la edad de 3, algunos niños son lo suficientemente fuertes para apretar el gatillo de una pistola: 25% de 3 a 4 años son lo suficientemente fuertes para apretar un gatillo, y 70% de 5 a 6 años son lo suficientemente fuertes para apretar un gatillo

Furthermore, it is important to acknowledge that not all young people who come into your home will know how to handle firearms responsibly, so preventing firearm access without permission can be important for keeping young people safe. Lastly, when young people are experiencing a crisis, such as thoughts of harming themselves, it is important to think about how you can help keep them safe — for example, by making sure they can’t access medications or a firearm in your home without your permission.

  • El Proyecto ChildSafe tiene un unos videos que hablan de esto con más detalle.
  • The National Shooting Sports Foundation also has a flyer that reviews information about firearms responsibility in the home. (English/Spanish)

¿Dónde puedo obtener más información sobre cómo manejar y usar las armas de fuego de manera responsable?

Firearm ownership is a responsibility that must be taken seriously. Learning proper safe firearm handling and storage is important for maintaining a safe environment. Many local firearm dealers offer training about how to handle and use firearms responsibly, and they may also have a list of courses offered in your area.

  • The Illinois Department of Public Health offers a number of online resources  
  • This guide for Firearm Safety and Patient Health also includes many helpful resources for firearm safety.
  • Walk the Talk America also offers many online resources. Their organization operates at the intersection of firearm culture, mental health, and public health, offering practical tools, education, and collaborative partnerships that reduce negative outcomes while respecting responsible gun ownership. 

Recursos sobre el suicidio

Cuando alguien a quien amas, como un niño, está experimentando problemas de salud mental o pensamientos de suicidio o autolesión, puede ser muy difícil saber qué hacer. El proveedor de atención primaria o el proveedor de salud mental de esa persona puede ayudarla, ya usted, si está involucrado en su atención, a pensar en estrategias para mantenerla segura. Si está buscando recursos adicionales sobre cómo ayudar a un ser querido que tiene pensamientos suicidas, consulte los recursos a continuación.

  • The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) offers many online resources for parents and caregivers.  
  • El Centro de Recursos para la Prevención del Suicidio tiene recursos para padres y tutores (aquí). Sus recursos cubren una variedad de temas, incluido cómo hablar con un niño que cree que podría estar pensando en hacerse daño a sí mismo.
  • When someone in your home is experiencing suicidal ideation, it is important to limit their access to things they could use to harm themselves, including medications and firearms. Project ChildSafe and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention have collaborated to create recursos for firearm-owning parents to help them understand youth mental health and how to prevent unauthorized access to firearms. 
  • Muchos vendedores de armas de fuego participan en programas como Walk the Talk America, que permite a los propietarios de armas de fuego llevar temporalmente sus armas de fuego a un vendedor de armas de fuego para que las guarde cuando sea necesario, por ejemplo, si alguien en el hogar está experimentando una crisis de salud mental. Para obtener más información, consulte este breve video sobre el programa (aquí).

En caso de emergencia, comuníquese con:

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline:

  • English/Spanish: 988
  • Para personas sordas o con dificultades auditivas:
    • You can reach out to 988 Videophone by calling 988 with a VP number.
  • Online Chat

Crisis Text Line:

  • Inglés: Envía HOME al 741741 o 443-SUPPORT en WhatsApp
  • Español: Text HOLA or AYUDA to 741741 or 442-AYUDAME in WhatsApp

Recursos para personas que experimentan violencia interpersonal o doméstica

Si le preocupa la violencia doméstica o interpersonal contra usted o contra otra persona, ya sea con un arma de fuego o sin ella, existen muchas organizaciones que pueden brindarle asistencia. Consulte una lista de recursos compilada por Futures Without Violence (aquí).

Please note that our S.A.F.E. Firearm study team is not affiliated with the organizations referenced on this resources page, nor are we responsible for any content included on their respective websites.