Bill Overview
Title: Protect Children Through Safe Gun Ownership Act
Description: This bill establishes certain requirements and education programs for the safe storage of firearms, including by establishing grants to provide parents with educational materials on gun safety and the importance of secure gun storage.
Sponsors: Rep. Levin, Andy [D-MI-9]
Target Audience
Population: Households with children and firearms
Estimated Size: 27500000
- The bill focuses on gun safety and secure storage, directly impacting households with firearms.
- Educational programs are aimed at parents, indicating a focus on families, specifically those with children.
- The guns in households are a global concern, but legislation and enforcement will primarily impact citizens where the regulation is applied.
- Children are indirect beneficiaries of improved gun safety, as the bill aims to create safer home environments for them.
Reasoning
- The primary focus is households with firearms that also have children. This aligns with the policy's aim to improve safety and storage practices to prevent accidents.
- The budget limitations require the policy to be scaled at first, perhaps focusing on specific states or regions with higher rates of gun ownership and incidents involving firearms.
- The Cantril wellbeing scores offer insights into how people's perceptions of safety and wellbeing might change due to this policy.
- The impact varies as not all gun-owning households may choose to participate or perceive the benefits equally, and there might be resistance in certain demographics due to cultural or personal beliefs about gun ownership.
Simulated Interviews
Police Officer (Texas)
Age: 42 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I believe in responsible gun ownership, and this policy aligns with making homes safer, particularly around children.
- Getting educational materials out there can really help dispel myths about gun safety that people might not even be aware of.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Elementary School Teacher (California)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I don’t have guns at home, but anything that makes children safer is a good idea.
- Education is key to changing behavior—parents need to know the risks.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Hunting Guide (Montana)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm all for safety, but I don’t think the government needs to tell us how to store our guns.
- Most gun owners I know take safety seriously without needing more regulations.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Child Psychologist (New York)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm hopeful this policy will reduce accidental shootings, which are often preventable with proper education.
- Parents learning about gun safety can be a step towards a safer environment for all kids.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Stay-at-home mom (Georgia)
Age: 27 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I feel better knowing there might be more people out there learning how to store guns safely.
- It’s important to be responsible with firearms, especially with kids at home.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Small Business Owner (Illinois)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm cautious about any regulation, but educating new gun owners is something even our club talks about.
- There's a balance in respecting rights and ensuring safety.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
College Student (Washington)
Age: 22 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think it's about time education on this becomes widespread. I've seen first-hand how carelessness can lead to accidents.
- This policy won’t reach everyone, but it's a start.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Retired (Florida)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think parents today don't understand that storing guns safely isn't just about the law, but about common sense.
- The policy is fine, but I doubt it'll change much without a cultural shift.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Warehouse Worker (Ohio)
Age: 31 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm all for learning how to keep my kids safe, even if it's more work for me.
- If this policy can help prevent tragedies, I'll support it.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Nurse (Missouri)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy is a step in the right direction, with more families having access to gun safety resources.
- I think it’ll take time before real results are noticeable, but hope is vital.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $50000000 (Low: $40000000, High: $60000000)
Year 2: $52000000 (Low: $42000000, High: $62000000)
Year 3: $53000000 (Low: $43000000, High: $63000000)
Year 5: $55000000 (Low: $45000000, High: $65000000)
Year 10: $60000000 (Low: $50000000, High: $70000000)
Year 100: $100000000 (Low: $80000000, High: $120000000)
Key Considerations
- The estimated target population includes 27.5 million American households with firearms and children.
- Start-up costs and bureaucratic growth could influence initial budget requirements.
- Success relies on effective outreach and engagement to maximize educational program uptake.