Noting that in Wisconsin, 146 children have died as a result of gunfire in the preceding 5 years [1996-2000], this report provides a detailed look at the issue of handgun safety from the perspective of citizens living in Wisconsin. Participating in the state-wide telephone interviews were 600 adult residents representative of the adult state population with respect to race, gender, education, income, and geography. Survey findings revealed that the majority of Wisconsin citizens are in favor of gun control but are also opposed to measures that would ban handguns entirely or make them easier to obtain. Seventy percent support handgun safety legislative action and most believe there should be laws requiring handguns to have safety features. Most residents do not believe that handguns in homes or in the hands of women deter violence. The most often cited causes of handgun violence were gangs and drugs. Other factors related to handgun violence included improper handgun storage, lack of training in the proper use of handguns, the media, and domestic violence. Most respondents do not believe that gun violence is getting worse in their communities or that handguns can be easily obtained. Gun ownership has increased among Wisconsin residents significantly, with 50 percent of households owning a shotgun, up from 38 percent in the late 1990s. Twenty-six percent of households have handguns, up from 8 percent in 1997. In addition to survey findings, the report includes an essay discussing the effects that violence has on children and focusing on the cognitive, emotional, and developmental harm done by witnessing or being a victim of violence. A description of the survey methodology is appended. (KB)