Archives of family medicine
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The United States has a greater percentage of households with guns and more acts of violence than any other country in the western world. Suicide is the nation's eighth leading cause of deaths in the United States, of which 60% are caused by firearms. ⋯ Most of these deaths can, in part, be attributed to inappropriate behaviors (eg, keeping a loaded and inadequately secured firearm in the home). As respected professionals in the community, family physicians have a unique opportunity to promote behaviors in patients that reduce the risk of firearm-related injuries in patients and their families.