"I want asking safety questions to become second nature before the stakes get bigger. I want my son to see that it’s okay to advocate for safety, even when it feels uncomfortable. Most of all, I want him to know that love sometimes looks like doing hard things." - Madeliene Clark

The Playdate Question I Hate Asking

Explore the important topic of asking about guns at playdates to ensure your child’s safety during their visits.

indianapolismoms.com

Even the youngest of children can, and do, access firearms and pull the trigger. In fact, preschoolers ages five and younger are among the most likely to unintentionally shoot themselves or others. These tragedies are preventable by storing guns unloaded, locked, and separate from ammunition.

Jacksonville toddler dies in accidental shooting; police investigate firearm access

A 2-year-old boy's accidental shooting: investigation underway

firstcoastnews.com

Moms Demand Action volunteers in Akron, Ohio partnered with a barber college and other community organizations to put together Be SMART bags with a gun lock, secure storage information, and merch to hand out to local businesses for the Summer Safety lock up initiative.

We do this work because a 5-year-old child unintentionally shooting themselves shouldn’t be normal — but in America, it’s an all-too-common reality.

New Palestine 5-Year-Old Shoots Self, Rushed To Riley In Midday Scare

5-year-old sent to Riley after accidental New Palestine shooting. Investigation ongoing.

hoodline.com

One of the worst possible outcomes of leaving a gun unsecured is the serious injury or death of someone you love. But there are other serious consequences to unsecured guns, like a teen using your firearm to carry out a school shooting, or a gun being stolen from your vehicle and used in a crime.

Another young life will never be the same because an adult failed to secure their firearm. Children depend on adults to make responsible choices — and securing firearms is among the most important.

7-year-old boy accidentally shoots himself with Glock in North Carolina

A 7-year-old boy was found with gunshot wounds, but the injuries were non-life-threatening.

myfox8.com

Storing a firearm between couch cushions is the height of irresponsible gun ownership. This tragedy could have been prevented by taking a few simple steps to secure the gun — stored unloaded, locked and separate from ammunition.

Toddler dead after finding gun in a couch, shooting himself: Officials

The 2-year-old's mother and her boyfriend were home at the time of the shooting, and both were arrested, authorities said.

usatoday.com

The message our Be SMART volunteers share wherever they are is simple: It’s on adults to store guns responsibly and secure storage saves lives.

How a Children’s Hospital Reduced Pediatric Firearm Injuries by 47%

A pediatric injury prevention specialist shares how building trust in rural communities is changing firearm safety conversations.

childrenshospitals.org

It’s devastating that another preventable tragedy has stolen a 2-year-old’s life and forever changed a family and whole community. You may think your child can’t access your gun, but children are curious — not to mention resourceful — so it’s on adults to store their guns securely.

Osceola sheriff urges secure gun storage after deputies say 4-year-old fatally shot 2-year-old

Osceola County: 4-year-old accidentally shoots, kills 2-year-old. Sheriff urges safe gun storage after tragic incident.

wftv.com

After an adult left a loaded revolver unattended on a counter in his Arkansas home, a 4-year-old child accessed the weapon and discharged it, killing 7-year-old Everett Deaver.

Pulaski County mother mourning after 7-year-old is killed in accidental home shooting

A Pulaski County mother is sharing her heartbreak after her 7-year-old son was shot and killed in what investigators say was an accidental shooting involving a loaded firearm left unattended inside…

kark.com

Whatever rooms you’re in, wherever your community gathers, or wherever your child plays, is a good place to talk to others about secure gun storage.

Be SMART for Kids@besmartforkids.bsky.social · 4w ago

Early in June, Dr. Fabienne Gray, a pediatric trauma surgeon with Manning Family Children's, went to Capitol Hill for the Children’s Hospital Association’s Community Health Showcase to talk about secure storage with congressional staffers and other children’s hospitals.

Early in June, Dr. Fabienne Gray, a pediatric trauma surgeon with Manning Family Children's, went to Capitol Hill for the Children’s Hospital Association’s Community Health Showcase to talk about secure storage with congressional staffers and other children’s hospitals.

Yet another child's life has been taken due to an unsecured gun — this time a 7-year-old in Winston-Salem, NC. Children can and do find guns in even the most inconspicuous places. That's why it's critical to secure guns in homes and vehicles, stored unloaded, locked and separate from ammunition.

7-year-old killed in accidental shooting while home alone with sibling in Winston-Salem

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (WGHP) — The Winston-Salem Police Department is investigating an accidental shooting involving two children that led to the death of a 7-year-old boy. At around 5:05 p.m. on Sat…

myfox8.com

A 10-year-old is facing murder charges after accessing a gun that had been stored underneath a mattress and fatally shooting 7-month-old Kiyomi Parker. Investigators say the gun belonged to the infant's father and the boy knew where the gun was kept. The man is also facing criminal charges.

10-Year-Old Boy Charged with First-Degree Murder in Shooting Death of 7-Month-Old Girl

Kiyomi Parker, a 7-month-old girl, died in a shooting in St. Louis on June 26. A 10-year-old boy has been charged with first-degree murder. The girl’s 19-year-old father, Ca'Marion Pawnell, faces char...

people.com

Summertime fun should not be marred by gun violence. Before arranging your child’s next playdate or sleepover, be sure to ask if there are guns in the home and if they are secured. Having this simple conversation could prevent a tragedy.

A 3-year-old boy shot and wounded himself after finding a loaded gun inside his caretaker’s vehicle. An infant was also inside the car. Every month, at least two children in the US access a loaded gun in a car and unintentionally shoot themselves or someone else.

3-year-old child accidentally shoots himself in Waynesboro, police say

An investigation is underway after a three-year-old child shot himself in Waynesboro on Monday.

wdam.com

“My daughter got hold of a gun and shot me in the arm,” said the father of a young child to 911 dispatchers in Ohio. The onus is on ADULTS to ensure children don’t access firearms. This incident could have been prevented by securing the weapon, stored unloaded, locked, and separate from ammunition.

Police investigating after young child gets hold of firearm, accidentally shoots father

“My daughter got hold of a gun and shot me in the arm. I'm at the fire station on Third Street.”

whio.com

A 2-year-old boy died from an unintentional shooting after finding an unsecured, loaded firearm while adult family members were home. Curious children can and do find guns, even in the most inconspicuous places, which is why they should be stored locked, unloaded, and separate from ammunition.

2-year-old boy dies in accidental shooting in Ohio, officials say

A 2-year-old boy in Defiance County, Ohio, died in an accidental shooting, authorities said.

cbsnews.com

Around 6.7 million kids live in a home with a loaded, unlocked gun. For #AskDay, we’re raising awareness on how asking if there’s an unlocked gun where your child plays can save a life. Learn more at besmartforkids.org.

Be SMART | Secure Gun Storage

Be SMART raises awareness that secure gun storage — storing guns locked, unloaded and separate from ammunition — can save children’s lives. Learn more and join us.

besmartforkids.org

Journee Long had just celebrated her 15th birthday weeks before an unsecured gun in the hands of another teen took her life. The teen got the gun from his godfather, who failed to secure it.

Bowie teen killed in D.C. apartment shooting involving unsecured gun

Bowie teen Journee Long was killed after two juveniles handled an unsecured gun in a Southeast Washington apartment, putting Prince George’s County families on alert.

prismnews.com

After a sharp rise in deaths by suicide in Laramie County, our Wyoming volunteers launched a gun lock distribution campaign to help address this problem head-on. 🧵

Every year, hundreds of children in the US gain access to a gun and unintentionally shoot themselves or someone else. These tragedies are wholly preventable. @besmartforkids.bsky.social teaches you how to securely store firearms, talk about secure storage, and keep kids safe. besmarforkids.org

We were proud to participate in “God, Guns, and Building Safer Communities: Safe Storage, Extreme Risk Protection Orders and Church-based Advocacy.” Faith leaders and people of faith can help reduce gun violence by naming the realities of this crisis and sharing the importance of secure gun storage.

Office of Public Witness' May Advocacy Hour webinar addresses gun violence prevention

In advance of Gun Violence Awareness Month in June, the Office of Public Witness (OPW) within Presbyterian Life & Witness (PL&W) dedicated its May Advocacy Hour webinar to the topic.

pcusa.org

As communities come together for #WearOrange Weekend, take this opportunity to raise awareness about the steps that can help prevent gun-related tragedies & keep our communities safe. One of the most important steps is understanding & promoting secure firearm storage, whether you own a gun or not.

Hundreds of children in the US gain access to loaded, unsecured firearms in homes, vehicles, bags, or other easily accessible places every single year. These situations can be deadly. We #WearOrange to call attention to this problem.

The Durham County Department of Public Health and the District Attorney’s Office teamed up to provide free gun locks to gun owners to help them secure their firearms. This is one simple yet effective step gun owners can take to keep our children and families safe.

Free gun locks event highlights push for safety in Durham: 'We don't want regrettable tragedies'

North Carolina has recorded at least 133 unintentional shootings involving children since 2025, according to Everytown.

abc11.com

This is why we raise awareness about secure gun storage: Every child deserves to grow up without the threat of gun violence.

Last week, our Maryland volunteers joined the 2nd Annual Wellness & Mental Health Fair in Annapolis — hosted by the immigrant resource center Centro de Ayuda — where they gave away free gun locks and spoke to families about the importance of secure gun storage. #WearOrange

The darkest day of Kim Klump’s life was when her 17-year-old son, Jesse, died by gun suicide in 2009. Kim decided she wanted to do something that Jesse would be proud of, so she launched the Jesse Klump Memorial Fund in March of 2009.

"Tennessee is consistently the third worst state in the country for the rate of children unintentionally dying through firearms. That same child fatality report for Tennessee deemed 92% of child firearm deaths in the state preventable.” - Alanna Truss, Be SMART lead

Nashville toddler accidentally shoots himself; gun safety advocates say most cases are preventable

A Nashville toddler shot himself after finding a gun at home. Advocates say 92% of child firearm deaths in Tennessee are preventable.

newschannel5.com