When is National SAFE Day?
June 4th is National SAFE Day.
What is National SAFE Day?
Accidental shootings are horrific. Hunting mishaps are bad enough, but when unsupervised kids play with loaded guns, too often it becomes tragic. National SAFE Day reminds us to practice household gun safety.
The Brooklynn Mae Mohler Foundation created National SAFE Day in 2016 to honor Brooklynn Mae Mohler. On June 4, 2013, 13-year-old Brooklynn was accidentally shot and killed by her best friend as they played with a loaded gun that had been left in a kitchen cabinet.
The acronym SAFE stands for the following:
Secure all firearms in the home
Ask the question about unsecured firearms in the homes your child visits
Frequently talk to your children about the dangers of firearms
Educate and Empower others to be SAFE
Tragedies like Brooklynn’s are avoidable. Ensuring your firearms are properly stored and secured can prevent accidental shootings. National SAFE Day is a prime opportunity to research and establish sound gun safety measures
Fun facts about National SAFE Day!
- About a third of households with kids under 19 years old have a gun in the home.
- Research demonstrates that many accidental shootings actually happen in the homes of friends or relatives.
- As of 2017, gunshot fatalities were the second leading cause of accidental death in American children ages 1 to 19.
How to celebrate National SAFE Day:
- Take a gun safety class.
- Ask about loaded guns at homes where your kids visit.
- Always unload firearms when not in use.
- Make a plan to teach your kids gun safety. (Maybe take them with you to that class you’re going to take.)
- Store your firearms in a locked container inaccessible to children.
- Store ammunition separately from your guns.
What’s the hashtag for National SAFE Day?
Use #NationalSAFEDay on social media to raise awareness and promote gun safety.