New Trier Township parents, students, faculty, community leaders, and residents, please sign this petition asking New Trier Township High School to promote safe gun storage in parent communications!

Firearms are the leading cause of death for American children and teens.

The CDC recently released The Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data Summary
& Trends Report which stated: 

"mental health among students overall continues to worsen, with more than 40% of high school students feeling so sad or hopeless that they could not engage in their regular activities for at least two weeks during the previous year—a possible indication of the experience of depressive symptoms. We also saw significant increases in the percentage of youth who seriously considered suicide, made a suicide plan, and attempted suicide." 

Every year, 700 kids die by suicide with a gun. And nearly 350 children shoot themselves or someone else, unintentionally. 4.6 million children in the US live in a household with at least one loaded, unlocked gun. 76% of the guns used by children in school shootings were from a parents or relatives home. Since 2013 there have been 45 mass shootings that have occurred in schools. 

As mental health continues to be a crisis among teens; and school shootings are occurring too frequently, we ask New Trier High School leadership to promote safe gun storage in parent communications along with other safety messaging. Storing guns securely, unloaded, and away from ammunition can prevent a devastating tragedy that can reverberate across communities and beyond. 

Be Smart Resources: https://besmartforkids.org/ 

Learn more: https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/pdf/YRBS_Data-Summary-Trends_Report2023_508.pdf