Texas Safe Gun Storage recommends using a gun storage device, such as a trigger lock, biometric lock, gun case or safe, to safely secure firearms.
A child died Sept. 5 in Fort Worth after what police say appears to be an accidental, self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Officers arrived at approximately 7:45 p.m. to an apartment complex located near the 2100 block of Revolutionary Way in Fort Worth, according to Cynthia Wood, a public information officer with the Fort Worth Police Department.
Wood said in a statement the child was transported to a local hospital and later died.
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“Early details indicate the child gained access to a weapon that was unsecured and accidentally shot herself,” Wood said.
So far in 2026, 17 children in Texas have died or been injured after gaining access to a firearm and unintentionally shooting themselves or another person, according to data from Everytown. Three of those 17 incidents have occurred in Fort Worth.
Here’s what to know about safely storing firearms, especially when children may be present in a home.
What is the safest way to store a firearm?
More than 50% of gun owners do not safely store their guns, according to Texas Safe Gun Storage, which is run through the Texas Department of Public Safety.
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Safely storing a firearm means no one other than the owner should have access to it, said Juan Gutierrez, a sergeant at the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Texas Safe Gun Storage recommends following three main steps to safely store firearms:
Using a gun storage device, such as a trigger lock, biometric lock, gun case or safe
Storing and locking ammunition separately from firearms
Restricting access to firearms by storing them in secure areas
“Make sure they’re stored in a place that’s even more restricted,” Gutierrez said. “Don’t just have it in the living room. Have it, if you can, in a bedroom, in a closet in a bedroom — somewhere a little bit further away than right there in shared spaces.”
Related: July 4 gunfire is dangerous: A guide to keeping yourself and your kids safe
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What should parents teach children to do if they see a gun?
Gutierrez recommends talking with children about firearms if guns are stored in their home. Parents and caregivers should also consider whether children could encounter firearms when visiting another home, he said.
“Although they are children, they can still understand what danger means,” Gutierrez said. “You tell them not to touch a hot stove, they’re not going to do it because they know they don’t want to get hurt. [It’s] the same with this.”
Texas Safe Gun Storage recommends teaching children that if they see a firearm to not touch it, leave the room and tell a trusted adult.
“Children are naturally going to be very curious,” Gutierrez said. “If they’re in a new area, if they’re unaware of different things like firearms, they have easy access, [then] their curious nature is going to take over.”
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Related: Fort Worth doctor has made preventing child gun injuries his personal mission
Is proper gun storage still important if you don’t have children?
Keeping firearms secure and away from unauthorized users of all ages is important, even in homes without children.
“You’ve got to think of the possibility of if someone were to break into your house, how easily accessible is your weapon,” Gutierrez said. “You’ve got to talk to your children about what firearms are and what they’re capable of doing.”
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Storing firearms in cars, specifically in the console, without a safe storage device is also discouraged, Gutierrez said.
“Evaluate your home, see how your guns are stored, or take a look at your vehicle and ask yourself, ‘can a child or an unauthorized person have access to this?’” Gutierrez said. “If the answer is yes, or even if the answer is maybe, now is the time to secure that weapon.”