Prevention of Handgun Accidents Through Owner Training

Government control of handguns for the purpose of reducing the incidence of accidental and/or intentional death and injury has not proven effective. Much of the research concerning accidental death and injury from firearms approaches the problem epidemiologically and identifies the gun as the agent. This study examined "control" of the handgun user through required training which stressed safety and legal use of the handgun. This study examined data involving 294 handgun owners for a five-year time period to determine the effectiveness of handgun training on accident reduction. The results were significant and supported the need for owner training in handgun use to reduce the incidence of accidents.