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Learn More About This Is Our Lane

How to Talk to Patients about Gun Access and Safety

Don't wait until tragedy strikes to bring up the topic of firearm safety

Clinicians often shy away from discussing firearm safety because they are worried about alienating their patients or simply don't know where to start. But research suggests that most patients find it appropriate for healthcare providers to initiate conversations about firearms — and it saves lives.

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Why Discussing Safe Firearm Storage Matters

  • 65%

    of gun owners have at least one unlocked firearm

  • 4.6 million

    children across the country live in a home with an unlocked firearm

  • 3x

    patients and families who receive safe storage counseling from their physicians are 3x more likely to store guns more safely

"Just as you ask about safety practices like wearing seat belts or helmets, your voice and expertise can play a life-saving role in discussions around firearm access."

Dr. Joseph Sakran, trauma surgeon and chair of Brady's This is Our Lane

Quick Tips

  • Begin the conversation in a non-judgmental manner

    Frame the conversation as a standard one, as opposed to a targeted conversation. For example, “As part of our routine safety checks, we talk to all of our patients about home safety, including the safe storage of medications and firearms. Are your medications safely stored? Do you have any firearms at home?”

  • Share the risks of unsecured firearms in the home

    While firearms may give individuals a sense of protection, they also introduce risks of shootings, including unintentional shootings and suicide. One of the best ways to educate your patient is by relating to their specific situation. Do they have children or elderly loved ones in the home? Have they or a household member expressed suicidal thoughts before? Tailor the conversation to their experience.

  • Address safe gun storage options

    Keep in mind there is no one-size-fits-all solution, and finding a storage method that is the correct fit for the patient should be collaborative. You can mention options such as cable locks, gun safes, and off-site storage. Cable and trigger locks are often given away for free by law enforcement and community organizations. They are also widely available for purchase, ranging in price from $5-20.

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About This Is Our Lane

Led by Dr. Joseph V. Sakran, Brady’s This Is Our Lane campaign mobilizes healthcare professionals to use their voices and expertise to reduce firearm injuries and deaths. 

Following a 2018 comment by the NRA that doctors should “stay in their lane” and had no business addressing firearm violence, Brady Chief Medical Officer, trauma surgeon, and gun violence survivor Dr. Joseph V. Sakran launched @ThisIsOurLane, a community of healthcare professionals dedicated to reducing firearm injuries and deaths. @ThisIsOur Lane sparked a grassroots movement, amplifying the voices of those who are on the frontlines of this preventable epidemic and inspiring a sea change in viewing gun violence as a public health issue. Brady's This Is Our Lane campaign benefits from the expertise of an advisory council including nationally recognized clinicians committed to ensuring that firearm violence in America is treated like the public health crisis that it is. 

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