As concerned citizens, we believe that gun safety should be taught in Columbia Public Schools. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, firearms are the second leading cause of death for children and teenagers in the United States. In addition, a study by Everytown Research found that 4.6 million children live in homes with at least one unlocked and loaded firearm.

Teaching gun safety in schools can help prevent accidents and save lives. The National Rifle Association offers a program called Eddie Eagle GunSafe® Program which teaches children what to do if they come across a firearm – stop, don’t touch, run away, tell an adult.

By teaching students about gun safety, we can reduce the number of accidental shootings involving children and teenagers. It is important to note that this is not about promoting or discouraging gun ownership; it is simply about educating our youth on how to stay safe around firearms.

We urge Columbia Public Schools to implement a comprehensive gun safety program for all students. This will not only benefit our community but also set an example for other school districts across the country.

Sources:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/leading-causes-of-death.htm
- Everytown Research: https://everytownresearch.org/child-access-prevention-laws-and-unintentional-child-firearm-deaths/