Study Finds 20% of High School Students Surveyed Say They Have Access to Handgun

A new study has found that, in a representative sample of high school students in Colorado, about 20% reported having easy access to a handgun. Students with mental health concerns or who had been in a fight were more likely to say they could access a handgun. The study, “Perceived Access to Handguns among Colorado High School Students,” which will be published in the April 2021 issue of Pediatrics (published online March 29), reported that, of the 46,537 high school students who responded to an anonymous survey, one in five students said it was “sort of easy” (11.1%) or “very easy” (8.8%) to access a handgun, with a higher prevalence among males and those who were older. There also were geographic differences -- students in schools in more rural areas were likelier to report perceived easy access. Students who had felt sad or hopeless, attempted suicide, or been in a fight were more likely to say they had access to a handgun. The findings show the importance of educating parents on the importance of secure home firearm storage, particularly if an adolescent is at risk of suicide, the authors conclude.

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The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 67,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.