Illinois PTA adopted a resolution on Safe Gun Storage at the 2021 convention. A slightly-modified version of that resolution was submitted jointly by Illinois PTA and Michigan PTA and was adopted at the 2023 National PTA Convention. Last month, President Biden signed an executive order implementing several actions to promote safe gun storage in order to reduce gun violence. National PTA President Yvonne Johnson and National PTA Vice President of Advocacy Rose Acerra were able to attend the signing.

The executive order notes that:

  • 76% of school shootings are committed with guns from the home of a parent or close relative.
  • 80% of the firearm suicides by children (age 18 or younger) involved a gun belonging to a family member, and the firearm suicide rate among children and teens has increased by 66% over the past decade.
  • 76% of the unintentional shootings of children were committed with an unsecured gun in the home, most often stored in nightstands or other sleeping areas. From 2003 to 2021, 1,262 children were killed by fatal unintentional firearm injury, with approximately half caused by another person.

Because local leaders like school officials can serve as trusted messengers, the executive order directs resources to help them promote safe firearm storage. Among the actions are:

  • A letter sent to all school principals explaining the importance of safe storage and encouraging them to communicate with families and their broader community about how safe storage can protect students in school and in their communities.
  • A communications template that school leaders can use to share the importance of safe firearm storage with families and encourage more people to take preventive action by safely storing their firearms.
  • A US Department of Justice (DOJ) guide to the safe storage of firearms that provides information on the different types of storage devices and best practices for safely storing firearms. This is the most comprehensive guide on safe storage ever released by the federal government.

Illinois PTA continues to advocate for safe gun storage laws here in Illinois and encourages PTAs to share the DOJ guide with their school community. Strong safe gun storage laws can cut the rate of gun suicides by more than half.