Firearm Laws: Child Access Prevention (CAP) Laws

Task Force Finding*

CAP laws are designed to limit children’s access to and use of firearms in homes. The laws require firearms owners to store their firearms locked, unloaded, or both, and make the firearm owner liable when a child uses a household firearm to threaten or harm him- or her-self or another.

The number of available studies of CAP laws, and limitations in their design suitability and execution, provided insufficient evidence to determine the effectiveness of the laws in reducing violence or unintentional firearm injury.

*From the following publication:

Task Force on Community Preventive Services. Recommendations to reduce violence through early childhood home visitation, therapeutic foster care, and firearms laws. [PDF - 71KB] Am J Prev Med 2005;28(2S1):6-10.

Review completed: April 2002