Montgomery County Councilmembers Tuesday introduced a resolution they hope will curb gun violence and deaths.
Increased education on storing firearms should help, said Council Vice President Kate Stewart and Councilmember Kristin Mink, who introduced the resolution. It is cosponsored by all council members.
“Heartbreaking gun violence continues to take the lives of people in our community,” Stewart said.
“Providing information on how to safely store guns is one way we can better safeguard Montgomery County. Just weeks ago, a three-year-old girl accidentally shot herself at home. By working with our county departments and community organizations to disseminate information, our goal is to move closer to ending gun violence in Montgomery County.”
Added Mink, “There is no defensible reason for the appalling level of gun violence in this country.”
According to Stewart and Mink, about 360 children under 18 unintentionally shoot themselves or someone else in the U.S., with 70% of incidents happening inside a home. Another 1,300 children and teens die by gun suicide each year, most often using guns belonging to a family member.
In three out of every four school shootings, the shooter acquired their firearm from the home of a parent or close relative, they pointed out.
The resolution would also require providers who receive county funding to disseminate educational information to parents of children in the programs about secure gun storage practices.
In his newsletter, Councilmember Evan Glass, who is a member of Moms Demand Action, stressed the need “to raise awareness about the importance of storing guns safely, especially in homes with children.”
