A Kentucky Health Issues Poll has revealed that 12 percent of state households with children keep their firearms unlocked and loaded.
The Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky and Interact for Health released their findings this month. The annual poll looks at health issues among adults in the commonwealth.
Foundation CEO Ben Chandler said he believes the risk of gun accidents is a real concern for Kentuckians. He said the foundation believes 12% is too high of a number.
“I don’t know why anybody would have a gun that’s unlocked and unloaded when somebody’s got kids-particularly smaller kids- in the home. All you have to do is have one accident and you can’t take it back.” Chandler said.
Chandler said 694 Kentuckians died from a gun-related injury in 2015. He said guarding against gun accidents is simply a matter of locking and unloading firearms.
The poll also found that men, higher-income adults and those living in non-urban counties were more likely to have firearms in or around the home.
