Five Simple Actions Can Help Protect Kids
Everytown for Gun Safety launched the Be SMART campaign to take action to promote responsible gun ownership and reduce child gun deaths. The campaign focuses on education and awareness about child gun deaths and secure gun storage. Be SMART volunteers encourage parents and caretakers to “Be SMART" and take these five simple steps to help prevent shootings by children:
S - Secure all firearms in your home and vehicles
M - Model responsible behavior around firearms
A - Ask about the presence of unsecured firearms in other homes
R - Recognize the role of firearms in suicide
T - Tell your peers to be S-M-A-R-T.
Learn more about the Be SMART initiative and how to talk to your kids about guns on this website.
If you are interested in hosting a free 20-minute presentation of the Be SMART campaign in your community, please email
minnesotabesmart@gmail.com.
Conversations About Safe Gun Storage Matter
Be sure to talk to your kids about guns, even if you do not have guns in your home. Kids need to know that guns are very dangerous. Teach yours to follow these rules if they see a gun:
Stop what they're doing.
Do not touch the gun, or allow anyone else to, even if it looks like a toy.
Leave the area where the gun is.
Tell an adult right away.
Unsecured Guns Can Kill
A gun in the house also can be used to hurt or kill someone when:
A child or teen finds the gun and accidentally pulls the trigger.
A depressed teen or adult feels suicidal and there is a gun readily available.
A family argument gets out of control.
A family member or friend is mistaken for an intruder.
