How to Be SMART with Guns in Your Home

As of today, Huntsville is included in the #NotAnAccident Index, a map of 141 (now 142) unintentional shootings of children in 2018. We can only expect that number to grow in the last quarter of the year. No one can argue that it’s OK to keep loaded weapons where second graders can get to them. So why do so many people do it?

With That Right, Comes a Responsibility

Nearly two million American children live in homes with guns that are not stored responsibly. Easy access to unsecured firearms is a deciding factor in a majority of unintentional child gun deaths. These tragedies are entirely preventable.

Owning a gun is a personal decision, but responsible storage is a public safety issue. It’s up to parents to have important conversations with their family members and friends about responsible gun storage, and their children about gun safety.

Gun safety is ALWAYS an adult’s responsibility. Guns in the hands of a child must first pass through the hands of an adult.

Be SMART

Thankfully, you have resources. The Be SMART campaign is facilitated by the Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, and is part of Everytown for Gun Safety, the largest gun violence prevention organization in the country.

How It Works
Be SMART is a 20-minute presentation given by Moms Demand Action volunteers. They will visit your PTA meeting, Scout group, church group, school or community program to help parents and adults prevent child gun deaths and injuries. They know these conversations can be tricky to navigate, and specifically cover these five steps:

Secure all guns in your home and vehicles
Model responsible behavior around guns
Ask about the presence of unsecured guns in other homes
Recognize the risks of teen suicide
Tell your peers to be SMART

Get In Touch

Want to coordinate a presentation? Want to get involved for the safety of kids in your neighborhood?

The Huntsville chapter of Moms Demand Action is offering Be SMART Gun Safety presentations FREE of charge to any interested PTA or community group. To request a presentation, Email Jill Smyth, the local group leader.