The impact of safety training on key outcomes depends on the content of the programs, the effectiveness of the programs in conveying pertinent information, and the number of gun owners who then modify their behavior based on the information presented in the training. However, much lower percentages of instructors discussed other safety issues, such as the role of firearms in suicide (10 percent) and domestic violence (10 percent) or the role of stolen firearms in gun crimes (20 percent). In 50 to 75 percent of the classes, trainers covered operating a safety lock and clearing jams and cartridge malfunctions, and they recommended storing guns unloaded and locked when the weapons were not in use (Hemenway et al., 2019b). Most trainers covered key safety issues, such as safely loading and unloading a gun, keeping one's finger off the trigger until being ready to shoot, and being cognizant of the target and what is behind it. One study audited 20 basic handgun safety classes in three states that had requirements for safety training and four that did not (Hemenway et al., 2019b). The components of safety training vary greatly across states. Indeed, applicants for concealed-carry permits in Maryland must demonstrate 70-percent accuracy when firing at least 50 rounds from a distance of no more than 25 yards (Maryland State Police, undated). Some courses include a live-fire demonstration to prove that the applicant can use a firearm safely. How Firearm Safety Training Requirements Affect Gun Use Outcomesįirearm safety training courses may cover firearm operation and safe handling, the physics of firearms, how to clean and repair firearms, firearm laws and regulations, and best practices for keeping firearms away from children or other vulnerable individuals. However, detractors of the laws suggest that such regulations create unwarranted costs and barriers to firearm ownership and that the right to own a firearm should not be conditional on training (Cole, 2014). Advocates of such policies suggest that the regulations ensure a minimum competency for using guns safely, just as drivers' tests are used to determine whether a person can safely drive a car. adults supported such requirements in a 2021 survey (Crifasi et al., 2022). Public support for requiring concealed-carry applicants to pass a test demonstrating safe and lawful use of firearms is relatively high an estimated 74 percent of U.S. Although there are no federal laws requiring private citizens to receive safety training, states sometimes require gun purchasers or those requesting concealed-carry permits to show proof of formal safety training on how to safely store, use, and maintain weapons. Others receive informal training from their friends or family. According to results from a 2015 survey, approximately 61 percent of firearm owners in the United States have received formal training on firearm safety and use (Rowhani-Rahbar et al., 2018).
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