Wake school board approves new safe gun storage initiative
Information on how to safely store guns will soon come to Wake County school families.
The Wake school board approved a resolution Tuesday supporting safe gun storage. It includes a commitment to regularly send information to families and staff about how to safely store firearms.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 156 North Carolina children and teens die each year from gunfire, most in their own homes. Often times, it's the result of a child gaining access to a family member's firearm.
Sheriff Willie Rowe along with representatives from other Wake County law enforcement agencies joined school leaders at the meeting to recognize the importance of educating families about "locking it up."
The plan that would provide families with information and resources about the importance of secure gun storage several times a school year and the legal consequences for not doing so. That could be in newsletters or by other methods. The system also has a new webpage devoted to resources.
The school system will also work with law enforcement agencies on hosting events and reach out to families in more creative ways.
"We will make a difference in safe-guarding our students form these preventable, preventable tragedies" Board Chairman Chris Hegearty said.
The vote comes as the State Department of Public Safety launched a campaign for safe gun storage called N.C. SAFE.
In the past year, at least three adults have been charged after a student brought a gun into a Wake County school.
Kristin Michaels, Wake County leader of gun safety group Be SMART, said school leaders have needed to do something. Her groups has been presenting at the school board and board members' community advisory groups.
She's excited about the step taken Tuesday. Guns are affecting too many lives, she said, and a lot of prevention is education.
"People don't understand the impact firearms have on children," Michaels said.
Information for this article was contributed by WRAL reporter Chelsea Donovan.
