Wake County weighs plan to educate students' families on safe gun storage
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said 156 children and teens die each year in North Carolina from gunfire, most in their own homes. Often, it's the result of a child gaining access to a family member's firearm.
Posted — UpdatedThe Wake County Board of Education met Tuesday afternoon for a work session to review a draft resolution focused on safe gun storage. Board members plan to vote March 19 to adopt the resolution.
The resolution concludes with an action item that says the district would provide families with information and resources about the importance of secure gun storage and the legal consequences for not doing so. That could be in newsletters or by other methods.
On Tuesday, board members suggested information go out to families several times per year. Some board members floated four times per year or every other month.
Board Member Toshiba Rice recommended more often than that.
"It's a major issue in our country," Rice said. "We could have written a resolution about a whole lot of other things. If it’s this important, make it important."
According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 156 North Carolina children and teens die each year from gunfire, most in their own homes. Even more children are injured by gunfire. Often, it's the result of a child gaining access to a family member's firearm.
In the past year, at least three adults have been charged after a student brought a gun into a Wake County school:
Parents should be reminded that safe gun storage is also important for other children who may be visiting their home, Board Member Lynn Edmonds said. They may teach their children how to properly use a gun, but their children might invite over friends who don't know.
Many youth shootings are accidental and occur in a home.
Many parents may also assume their children will handle guns properly but may not know everything going on with their children, including mental health struggles, Board Member Cheryl Caulfield.
Most suicide deaths occur by firearm, according to the CDC.
School system spokeswoman Lisa Luten said many parents of children involved in bringing a weapon to school are surprised.
"In debriefing with parents they often ... did not expect that their child would do this, until their child does do that," Luten said.
• Credits
Copyright 2024 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.