Springville-Griffith Institute

Dear S-GI Families and Staff Members,

During the November 15, 2022 Board of Education meeting, the Board unanimously passed a resolution in support of “Gun Sense” advocacy and the application of the Be SMART program in S-GI schools to further secure safe gun storage in homes with children.

School districts have a vested interest in ensuring that firearms do not appear on school grounds and that students and staff are not negatively impacted by the effects of gun violence. The Be SMART campaign was launched to raise awareness that secure gun storage can save children’s lives. Be SMART emphasizes that it’s an adult’s responsibility to keep kids from accessing guns and that every adult can play a role in keeping kids and communities safer.

In our area, firearms are important for many, whether for hunting, sport or protection. But in all of these cases, safety is of the utmost importance.

Did You Know

• 4.6 million children in America live in homes with guns that are both loaded and unlocked.
• 350 children 17 and under gain access to a firearm and unintentionally shoot themselves or someone else each year.
• One-third of these incidents can be prevented with secure storage.

If there are guns in your home, it’s safer to store them securely. One study showed that households that locked both firearms and ammunition had a 78 percent lower risk of self-inflicted firearm injuries and an 85 percent lower risk of unintentional firearm injuries among children.

There are plenty of affordable storage options — from lockboxes to gun safes, to devices with biometric authentication — that allow you access to guns in a matter of seconds while still preventing access by children and other unauthorized people. 

Everyone wants to keep their family safe. If there’s a gun in your home, practicing secure storage will help.

What Is Secure Firearm Storage?

• Unload: Remove all ammunition from the firearm, including removing any chambered rounds.
• Lock: Secure guns with a firearm locking device, such as a jacket lock, or in a locked location, like a safe or lockbox.
• Separate: Store ammunition in a secure location separate from the firearm. 

Free firearm locking devices are available through the Erie County Sheriff’s Office. You can stop by the station at 10 Delaware Ave, Buffalo, or email Deputy Wood at WoodD@erie.gov to arrange for a locking device to be available for pick up at the Springville substation.

Visit BeSMARTforKids.org to learn more. When it comes to kids’ safety, we’re all in this together!