As an American, you have the right to protect your property and your family by keeping a firearm in your home. However, as a responsible consumer, you also must ensure that you’re well-educated on the danger that firearms can cause if not properly secured, especially if you are raising a small child.

Read on to learn three of the most shocking statistics that you need to know if you are raising a child in a home with guns.

• Guns are now the third leading cause of death for children in America. In children ages one to 17, firearm injuries are now the third leading cause of death, preceded only by other unintentional injuries (largely composed by vehicle accidents and drowning) and childhood cancer.

• About 1,300 children die of gunshot wounds in the US annually. According to the Centers for Disease Control, an additional 5,790 children are injured by a gun annually as well. This averages out to about 19 children injured or killed by a firearm every single day.

• Boys dominate these statistics. Boys are much more likely than girls to be injured or killed by a gun, according to research by the CDC. Boys make up about 82% of firearm-related injuries and deaths.

If you have guns in your home, a secure gun safe from Mike’s Lock Shop, a leading provider of residential and commercial locksmith services in Philadelphia, can help you avoid a tragedy. By far, the best way to ensure that your guns are kept out of the hands of your children is to keep all of your firearms unloaded and locked away in a strong and sturdy safe.

At Mike’s Lock Shop, we offer a wide selection of gun safes and locking systems and can even provide you with a residential or commercial locksmith in Philadelphia should you require one. Give our team a call today at 215-495-0133 or browse our website to learn more about our line of gun and fire safes that will help keep you and your family safe.