The study sample came from 96 pediatric practices in 45 states, Canada and Puerto Rico. During routine well-child visits to the pediatrician, the parents of 3,745 children ages 2 to 11 were questioned. Most of the study respondents were female.

In Utah, two pediatric clinics participated in the study: Willow Creek Pediatrics in Draper and Utah Valley Pediatrics in American Fork. Although no Utah-specific data was included in the study, about one-fourth of the parents overall said they keep at least one gun at home.

The Utah Department of Health's Violence and Injury Prevention Program says that on average, 220 Utahns die, 100 are hospitalized and 180 are treated in emergency departments for firearm injuries each year. The numbers were based on VIPP statistics from 2001 to 2005.

However, the health department said 82 percent of those deaths were suicides, 15 percent were homicides, 2 percent were undetermined and 1 percent declared "unintentional."

Aposhian told the Deseret Morning News that education is vital to firearms safety.

"Educate your child," Aposhian said. "My child goes to another house, they stand a much better chance of surviving if a gun is left out because they have been educated. 'Stop. Don't touch that thing. Leave the area and go tell an adult.'"

---

Contributing: Lois M. Collins, Deseret Morning News

E-mail: bwinslow@desnews.com