Secure gun storage can save lives
By Linda Coffin, Co-Chair Gun Violence Prevention Committee
Orlando Sentinel Letter to editor, April 6
Death by firearms is now the number one cause of death in children and teens in America, and we can all help prevent that with safe gun storage. According to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, about 350 guns are stolen out of cars here every year, and many of those guns are then used in crimes. Recently, a 4-year-old found a gun in a car in his garage, launching an unfortunate chain of events that resulted in his avoidable death.
These are terrible circumstances, and that is why it’s important to focus on safe storage of firearms.
We can help by encouraging gun owners to safely secure their firearms in unattended vehicles.
Thank you to our local leaders, who are helping to educate the public about how and why to secure firearms. Orange County Sheriff John Mina and Tax Collector Scott Randolph have joined forces with the Orange County League of Women Voters to film a video explaining about safe storage. You can see their video playing in your Tax Collector’s Office in Orange County OR view right on our YouTube Channel.
It is incontrovertible that secure firearm storage saves lives. It doesn’t take much time to access securely stored weapons when needed.
Please safely lock up your firearm when not using it, and tell your friends and family, too.
Remember, it’s easier to secure our firearms than to bulletproof our children.
Linda Coffin, Orlando
(GVP partners with Be Smart (as shown below) to get out the safe storage message.)