SMART Week Reminds Us That Advocating For Youth Starts With Asking About Secure Firearm Storage
We can all be part of the movement to prevent gun violence in our homes, communities, and states. One way to take action is by asking how firearms are stored.
August 26–30, 2024, marks the first annual SMART Week. This week is a time when we come together to spread the word on the critical importance of secure gun storage to prevent gun violence.
Each day, we’ll be sharing a blog post expanding on each letter of the “SMART” acronym:
- Secure
- Model
- Ask
- Recognize
- Tell
SMART Week is built on the foundation of the Be SMART public education program. Be SMART promotes secure gun storage as a means to prevent kids under 18 and other unauthorized users from accessing guns.
My name is Rev. Dr. Greta Willis, and I am a volunteer with Moms Demand Action and an ordained elder at Pillar Worship Center in Baltimore, Maryland. I am also the co-founder of The Kevin L. Cooper Foundation, Inc., an organization created in my son’s name.
My son, Kevin L. Cooper, was shot and killed by a Baltimore City police officer on August 12, 2006, when he was just 14 years old.
I co-founded The Kevin L. Cooper Foundation to establish core groups of Baltimore City residents dedicated to reducing youth deaths from gun violence. Our mission is to save young lives through various programming, including:
- Mentoring and tutoring;
- Employment opportunities;
- Grief support;
- Free summer camp; and
- Connecting youth to advocates.
I began volunteering with Moms Demand Action and the Be SMART program several years ago because I believe this work is crucial for parents and guardians to learn about how to store weapons smartly and securely.
Firearms are the leading cause of death for children and teens in the United States. One way to prevent trauma and tragedies is by asking family, friends, and community members whether they have unlocked or loaded guns in the home. In Baltimore, Maryland, I ask this question frequently.
Far too often, the answer is yes—even though we know that the most secure way to store a firearm is unloaded, locked, and, if possible, stored separately from its ammunition.
Through our partnership with Marylanders To Prevent Gun Violence, the Kevin L. Cooper Foundation is committed to raising awareness about gun safety within our community. Together, we facilitate a grief support program for elementary-aged children who have experienced significant loss or trauma due to gun violence. By being SMART, we can help prevent such tragedies from occurring in the first place by reducing the risk of youth accessing firearms unintentionally.
The youth we work with understand that guns, when stored insecurely, pose a serious danger to them and their loved ones. They express their desire to live safe and healthy lives. However, we know that even with this understanding, children may act impulsively or take risks when they believe no one is watching. That’s why it’s crucial for us—as parents, guardians, caregivers, mentors, and community members—to engage in ongoing conversations about gun safety and take proactive steps to secure firearms. By coming together in love and vigilance, we can better protect them and help ensure their safety.
It is smart to Be SMART and prevent the tragedies that all too often occur when a child accesses an unsecured firearm. Everyone can be part of the movement to prevent gun violence in our homes, communities, and states. Start by asking those around you whether they have guns in their home. If they do, follow up to ask how they are stored.
It doesn’t need to feel strange or awkward to bring up the issue of whether guns are stored unlocked or loaded around children. If you’re not sure where to start, Be SMART has resources to help.
Learn more about asking about secure gun storage.
Rev. Dr. Greta Willis is co-founder of The Kevin L. Cooper Foundation, Inc., a volunteer with Moms Demand Action, and an ordained elder at Pillar Worship Center in Southwest Baltimore.