Safe Storage Saves Lives at Home and at School

By Sudria Twyman

Tess Marie Mata of Uvalde, TX loved the Houston Astros and playing softball. The 10-year-old was saving money for a family trip to Disney World. Tess would have been a fifth grader this fall.

Bennie Hargrove of Albuquerque, NM enjoyed playing basketball and boxing. The teen was a protective big brother, and stood up for his friends. Bennie would have started high school this fall.

Justin Shilling of Oxford, MI was a star on the varsity bowling and golf teams. In addition to school and sports, the 17-year-old worked three jobs. Justin would have started his freshman year of college this fall.

These vibrant young scholars had the brightest futures ahead of them. But sadly, they won’t be joining their fellow classmates on the school yard this year because of the tragedies that occurred on the school yard last year.

As students across the country embark on an exciting new school year, parents are faced with the terrifying yet realistic anxiety that the next wave goodbye from the bus stop could be their last. With concerns of mass shootings, gang violence, bullying, and toxic peers, it can feel like you’re sending your child into a war zone as opposed to an institution of learning. Over 311,000 students have been exposed to gun violence in their school since the Columbine massacre in 1999. We cannot rationally expect our children to thrive in an environment where they are constantly on edge about whether their school, or their families, will be thrust onto the front page of our nation’s gun debate.

In 2020, firearms became the leading cause of death in children, shifting from decades where automobile accidents held that grim spot.

In 2020, firearms became the leading cause of death in children, shifting from decades where automobile accidents held that grim spot. As a mother, I am terrified. As an American, I am disgusted. Gun violence is unfortunately a common part of life for our nation’s youth, and they have the adults in their lives to thank for that. Minors under the age of 18 are not able to purchase firearms, but that does not prevent or even reduce their ability to access them. In most cases, minors gain access to firearms inside their own homes that were not properly stored by the owner.

Nearly five million children under the age of 18 live in homes with unsecured firearms, posing a significant risk to their friends, their families, and themselves. Unsecured firearms don’t just pose a dangerous risk in the home. More than 80% of the school shootings since 1999 were carried out by a minor who gained access to a gun found in their home or the home of a close friend or family member. Additionally, as suicide remains the second-leading cause of death among ages 10–34, firearms that are safely secured are less likely to end up in the hands of someone susceptible to suicidal thoughts.

The idea of a federal safe storage law is not new to Congress. Last year, Connecticut Representative Rosa DeLauro introduced Ethan’s Law in the House, which would require most firearms to be safely stored if there is a possibility it could be accessed by a minor. Just recently, the House passed the Protecting Our Kids Act which includes Ethan’s Law and several other common sense gun safety measures.

The evidence is clear. Safe storage of firearms can save lives. The recent success of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act has opened a new realm of possibilities for gun reform in Congress. We have seen what can be done when lawmakers put progress over politics and uphold the demands of the majority over the greed of special interests. I urge the 117th Congress to build on this momentum by passing Ethan’s Law and delivering our children the safer future they deserve.

Sudria Twyman is the Social Policy & Politics fellow at Third Way.