Among the boys who found the real gun, one third pulled the trigger with enough force to fire the weapon. Almost all the boys who handled the gun had some gun safety training, which emphasizes the importance of leaving guns alone and finding an adult to put the gun away. Twenty-one of the 64 boys came from families who own guns, but those boys were no more or less likely to pick up the real gun when they found it. The NRA has been harshly critical of Kellerman in the past, arguing that his studies are barely-veiled public relations exercises for gun control. To Meri Wallace, a New York-based child and family therapist who has written multiple books on parenting, the message is clear.
Parents can say no, no don t touch that, and warn the kids about the gun, but it won t matter.
This kind of study really supports the notion that there is inherent danger in having a gun in the home. TIME Archive Search all back-issues of TIME since 1985 for TIME's unique perspective on history, people, and the most important events of the day. 2001 Time Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.