Like so many parents, I feel a wide range of emotions as I prepare to send my three children back to school. The hope and excitement about the new school year is mixed with worry and concern. Many things weigh on a parent’s heart, and you don’t have to look far to become painfully aware of the dangers facing our youth today, especially school shootings. It can leave a parent feeling helpless to protect our children, and that is why I was so glad to learn about the Be SMART program.
Be SMART is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, public education program that promotes secure gun storage as a means to prevent kids and other unauthorized users from accessing guns. It provides simple steps that everyone (gun owners and non-gun owners alike) can take right now to help kids, classrooms and communities stay safe from gun violence by raising awareness about secure gun storage.
SMART stands for: Secure all guns in homes and vehicles; Model responsible behavior around guns; Ask about the presence of unsecured firearms in other homes your child visits; Recognize the role of guns in suicide; Tell your peers to Be SMART.
Aug. 26-30 marks the inaugural SMART Week, a time when we come together to spread the word on the critical importance of secure gun storage to prevent gun violence. Whether you own a gun or not, SMART Week is for everyone. There are strong feelings surrounding gun issues, and it can be a very polarizing topic. However, one thing everyone can agree on is: We want to keep our kids safe. Be SMART is a way to reach across the aisle and work together to do that!
Across the United States, millions of children live in homes with unsecured guns. We’ve seen time and again that when guns aren’t properly stored, tragedy can strike. According to the CDC, firearms are the leading cause of death for children in America. Furthermore, approximately 76% of school shooters under 18 gained access to the gun from the home of a parent or close family member. Research shows that the most effective way to prevent children from accessing firearms is making sure all guns are stored unloaded, locked and separate from ammunition. A hidden gun isn’t a securely stored gun.
I am proud of our Cape Henlopen School District for promoting the Be SMART message as an educational resource for the safety and security of its families. With three children in Cape schools and as a substitute teacher myself, it is comforting to know our district is being proactive in trying to keep us safe in the schools.
SMART Week is a community-wide effort. Change happens every day through meaningful conversation with friends, family, neighbors and community leaders. As our children head back to school, let’s normalize conversations about gun safety and spread the Be SMART message.
To learn more about secure gun storage, text SMART to 644-33, follow @BeSMARTforKids on Instagram and Facebook, or visit besmartforkids.org.
Adrienne Fyock
Lewes
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