Brady United

Model responsible gun ownership, especially characters storing their firearm(s) locked, unloaded, and separate from ammunition.

Don't show a character reaching for a loaded, unlocked gun or coming home and putting their gun on the counter. These depictions normalize unsecure firearm storage. About 4.6 million children live in homes with unlocked and loaded guns and 65% of gun owners have at least one unlocked firearm, contributing to rising rates of suicide and child gun deaths.

Show the consequences of reckless gun use.

Don't show gunshot wounds as minor and easily recoverable, as these injuries often necessitate years of follow-up care and have life-long complications, including chronic pain, psychiatric disorders, and substance abuse disorders. Avoid depictions of misfirings/unintentional shootings or multiple shots being fired (such as a drive-by shooting) without any negative impact.

Have at least one conversation during pre-production on the way guns will be portrayed on screen.

Don't default to using a firearm as the only way to advance tension or resolve conflict, as there may be alternatives that wouldn’t sacrifice narrative integrity. 

Limit scenes with kids and guns, keeping in mind that guns are the leading cause of death of children in America.

Don't Whenever possible, avoid portraying children holding and using firearms, especially without a high sense of threat and risk. Research has found that children who see characters use guns may be more likely to use real guns themselves if given the chance. About 1 in 4 children have handled a gun in their home without their parents knowing, often with tragic outcomes.