Rhode Island Moms Demand Action, Students Demand Action Applaud Barrington School Committee on Passage of Secure Firearm Storage Resolution

Thanks to the Advocacy of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action Volunteers, More Than 2 Million Students Now Live in School Districts that Distribute Secure Storage Educational Information to Parents

The Rhode Island chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety’s grassroots networks, released the following statements applauding the Barrington School Committee for passing a resolution to distribute secure storage information to parents across the school district. This comes after the threat of gun violence hit particularly close to home in December when a school shooting threat was found written in a school restroom at Barrington High School.

“Since this school year began, there has already been an unprecedented number of gunfire on school grounds, and that reality is unacceptable, in Barrington and across the country,” said Amy Herlihy, a volunteer with the Rhode Island chapter of Moms Demand Action. “We are grateful to the Barrington School Committee for recognizing the need to educate families about the importance of securely storing firearms in their homes, so that children and teens cannot access them and harm themselves or someone else.”

“Students should not have to fear going into school because of the threat of gun violence, and ending that fear starts with parents securely storing their guns,” said Caleb Schultz, a volunteer with Barrington High School Students Demand Action. “The Barrington School Committee has put the interests of students first with this important resolution. We are very thankful for the action they’ve taken to keep future generations safe.”

More than 2 million students across the country now live in a school district that requires schools to educate parents about the critical importance of secure firearm storage in keeping schools and students safe — including the distribution of Be SMART educational materials — thanks to the tireless advocacy of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action volunteers.

The Be SMART program, developed by the Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund and Moms Demand Action, helps parents and other adults normalize conversations about gun safety and take responsible actions that can prevent child gun deaths and injuries, youth suicides, unintentional shootings and gunfire on school grounds. 

The program encourages parents and adults to: 

• Secure all guns in their home and vehicles
• Model responsible behavior around guns
• Ask about the presence of unsecured guns in other homes
• Recognize the role of guns in suicide
• Tell your peers to be SMART

For more information on the Be SMART program and how to safely secure your firearms, visit the Be SMART website. Additional information about unintentional shootings by children can be found here, and information about gunfire on school grounds can be found here.