The California chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety, released the following statement applauding the Assembly Education Committee after passing AB 452, legislation to require schools to notify parents and guardians about secure storage laws to ensure guns are being stored securely. Secure storage laws are one of the simplest ways to prevent school shootings, gun suicides, and unintentional shootings by children and AB 452 would ensure parents are aware of the law requiring secure firearm storage, have information they need on how to securely store firearms, and understand the risks of children and unauthorized users having access to guns.
“The simple fact is: secure storage saves lives,” said Kasey Zahner, a volunteer with the California chapter of Moms Demand Action. “Too often we see the same story play out in our homes and schools — a child gets ahold of an unsecured firearm and devastation follows. Making sure that parents and guardians have information about responsible gun ownership and how to securely store firearms is imperative to keep our kids safe.”
“Gun violence in schools is a constant threat for myself and my peers,” said Eden Bjornson, a volunteer with Students Demand Action in California. “Notifying parents about the importance of keeping guns locked, unloaded and separate from ammunition is a simple way to keep schools and communities safe.”
AB 452 would be the first law in the country requiring schools statewide to give information to parents and guardians about secure storage. Right now, at least 27 school boards in California already send home information about secure storage every year.
Over the past two years, Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action volunteers, in partnership with Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund, have successfully urged school boards across the country to enact such notification policies, including school districts in Vermont, Texas, California, Arizona, Oregon and Colorado. Schools should be thinking about this preventive step to keep students safe in and out of the classroom. This work is part of Everytown’s comprehensive approach to keeping schools safe from all forms of gun violence.
Gun violence is the leading cause of death for children and teens in California. Every year, over 3,000 Californians are shot and killed and over 6,800 are wounded. More information about gun violence in California is available here.