Just one week following the release of an extensive review of the 2022 mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, the U.S. Department of Education calls on principals and other school leaders to spread awareness about safe firearm storage, a practice officials believe is crucial for saving lives.
On Thursday, the Department of Education issued a Dear Colleague letter along with a template that leaders can send to families that advises district leaders across the country to “educate the whole school community about the importance of safe firearm storage.”
“As school principals and district administrators, you have credibility in your community and trust in your schools and districts that uniquely position you to help save lives,” U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona wrote in the letter.
Since 2018, there have been more than 100 school shooting incidents per year, according to the “K-12 School Shooting Database,” which officials noted in the template for districts. Even outside of school, more than 4 million students live in a household with at least one unlocked and loaded firearm, a 2021 National Firearms Survey suggests.
In light of this research, the Department of Education asks school leaders to share three best practices with their communities to ensure the safety of their children:
- Safely store your firearms: Keep your unloaded firearms in a tamper-proof locked cabinet, box, safe, firearm vault or storage case.
- Safely store ammunition: Place ammunition in a separate compartment similar to that mentioned above so that no unauthorized children or adults can access it.
- Secure firearms: Use trigger or cable locks to prevent a gun from firing accidentally.
“Gun-related injuries and deaths are a heartbreaking public health crisis, and it will take action from all of us to better protect our children,” Cardona said in a statement. “We know that keeping guns locked and securely stored is one of the most effective tools we have for keeping kids safe and preventing senseless tragedies.”
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Additionally, the Department of Education calls on school leaders to engage in the following community-related efforts:
- Share information about safe gun storage with parents and families.
- Partner with other community leaders to raise awareness of gun violence prevention efforts.
- Call on other organizations and partners within the community, such as parent organizations and nonprofit agencies.
- Integrate firearm storage information into your district with families, guardians and caregivers regarding overall emergency preparedness and school safety.
“I encourage you to educate the whole school community about the importance of safe firearm storage,” Cardona wrote. “Let’s work together to save lives.”
