Brady Calls on Schools to Educate Families on Firearm Storage

Legislation Introduced by Assemblymember Laura Friedman Could Reduce Incidents of Family Fire

Washington, D.C., February 8, 2021 - Brady applauds the introduction of AB 452 by Assemblymember Laura Friedman (D-Glendale) and urges the California Legislature to pass this important bill. AB 452 would require the Department of Education and the Department of Justice to work with California schools on notifying families about the state’s safe gun storage laws. Especially while children are confined at home during the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring families have the information they need to safely store firearms could curb incidents of family fire - shootings involving improperly stored or misused guns in the home.

This legislation will reduce unintentional shootings among children, youth suicides by firearm, and school shootings. The bill will save lives. Brady calls on the California Legislature to pass AB 452 without delay.

Brady President Kris Brown shared:

“Schools and educators are vital partners in the effort to prevent unintentional shootings in the home, part of what’s known as family fire. Nationwide, more than 4 million children live in homes with access to unlocked or unsupervised guns, while eight children or teens are injured or killed in unintentional shootings every day. This bill will help to provide California families with information about the dangers that can result from unsafe firearm practices in the home.

Brady is grateful to Assemblymember Friedman for her work in championing this needed policy. All Californians, and especially the state’s children, will be safer because of this bill and we urge the California Legislature to pass it at once."

Brady California Legislative Chair and former school board member of the Ready Springs Union Elementary School District, Amanda Wilcox shared:

“As we enter another year of lockdown orders from the coronavirus pandemic, millions of children continue to spend increased time in homes where guns are improperly stored. We owe it to our children, and all Californians, to protect them from incidents of family fire. AB 452 is a necessary step to save lives and reduce the major impact family fire has on America’s gun violence epidemic.”

Team Enough Executive Councilmember Stephan Abrams shared:

“Schools are an essential partner and often untapped resource in the effort to prevent unintentional shootings and reduce gun violence. As a California resident and current student, school resources are an important information source for us and our families. This bill will save lives by helping schools and parents to avail themselves of these materials on safe storage and gun safety. It is a common-sense bill and we are proud to support Assemblymember Friedman in the effort to ensure it becomes law.”

About AB 452:

Introduced by Assemblymember Laura Friedman, AB 452 requires all public and private schools in California to inform parents and guardians of California’s child access prevention and safe firearm storage laws at the beginning of each semester or quarter.

About Family Fire

Family fire is a shooting involving an improperly stored or misused gun in the home that results in death or injury. Every day, 8 children and teens are unintentionally injured or killed due to an unlocked or unsupervised gun in the home. 63 people a day die by gun suicide. When someone attempts suicide with a gun, they rarely get a second chance to live a full life. Unintentional shootings, suicide, and intentional shootings are all forms of family fire.

Fast Facts About Family Fire:

  • 4.6 million children live in homes with access to an unlocked or unsupervised gun

  • Over 70% of kids know where that gun is stored in their home

  • One study showed that 1 in 5 parents who said their child never handled guns without supervision were contradicted by their child’s reports

  • Access to guns in the home increases the risk of suicide by 300%.

  • 75% of school shootings are facilitated by kids having access to unsecured and/or unsupervised guns at home.

For more information: https://www.bradyunited.org/program/end-family-fire

###

Brady has one powerful mission — to unite all Americans against gun violence. We work across Congress, the courts, and our communities with over 90 grassroots chapters, bringing together young and old, red and blue, and every shade of color to find common ground in common sense. In the spirit of our namesakes Jim and Sarah Brady, we have fought for over 45 years to take action, not sides, and we will not stop until this epidemic ends. It’s in our hands.


Back to Press Releases
Related Posts