Daily in the United States alone 83 lives are lost by controversial gun laws, or lack thereof and lax parental supervision of firearms. National ASK Day stresses the importance and responsibility of caretakers to ask questions to protect their children from gun abuse, injury and death.

Approximately half of youth gun deaths, or more than 1,500 per year, occur because parents, relatives or friends leave guns accessible to kids. Parents may be playing it safe at home, but what about friends of friends’ parents’ homes, relatives and other recreational spots?

The current restrictions on gun sales in America have proved ineffective and have failed us all at the most critical moments. Over 40% of U.S. households with children have guns; protecting our children’s safety is vital in shaping the future of our great nation. It is our moral duty to provide them with safe areas to play and enjoy life, free from all types of fear or violence.

In New York State alone, more than 95,000 youths live in homes with loaded weapons, and over 52,000 of these households have loaded and unlocked firearms.

The Center to Prevent Youth Violence (PAX), in collaboration with the American Academy of Pediatrics, created the ASK (Asking Saves Kids) campaign. ASK is a national public health initiative that provides something real every parent can do to keep their children safe. Based on the astonishing fact that over 40% of homes with children have a gun, many of which are kept unlocked or loaded, the ASK campaign encourages parents to ASK if there are guns in the homes where their children play. It is a simple idea that is undoubtedly saving lives.

Here are some more interesting statistics:

  • Eight children and teens were killed by firearms every day in 2006
  • Over 48 additional children and teens were seriously injured by firearms every day in 2007
  • Nearly 1.7 million children, under the age of 18, live in homes with firearms that are both loaded and unlocked in the United States
  • Over 40% of American households with children have guns
  • 50% of parents are concerned about guns in other homes
  • 78% of parents would be concerned if they knew there was a gun where their child played
  • 97% of parents who owned a gun said they would not feel uncomfortable if asked about the presence of a gun in their home by another parent

To date, the ASK campaign has formed partnerships with over 400 grassroots organizations who have brought the message of ASK to their communities. Additionally, the American Academy of Pediatrics, through is official collaboration with the ASK campaign has promoted the ASK message to its 60,000 members nationwide.

ASK is further supported by a groundbreaking public service advertising campaign including partnerships with several of the nation’s most prominent companies in television, radio and print. Through this nationwide grassroots education program and powerful public service advertising campaign, the ASK campaign has successfully inspired an estimated two million homes to begin asking if there are guns where their children play.

As a result of this promotion, it is reported that two million more households are asking about guns where their children play, and the number of parents who say guns are a top concern when their children visit someone’s home has risen from 5% to 19%.

An audience of over one billion has heard the ASK message on radio and TV. This airtime (worth over $10,000,000 in media value) has been entirely donated by affiliates.

Sources: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and The Center to Prevent Youth Violence

Written by Sy Kraft