SMART behavior a key to stop gun violence

The school shooting at Oxford High School in Michigan is a tragedy that cost four young people their lives and made survivors of countless others. Yet it is a story that plays by the school violence playbook. Approximately 80% of school shooters get their guns from their homes or homes of friends or family. The shooter at Oxford High obtained his weapon from his home.

We can feel helpless, but we are not. We can advocate for and educate about the safe storage of firearms. Education programs like Moms Demand Action's Be SMART program (www.besmartforkids.org) educate on the specifics of secure firearm storage. Becoming familiar with this simple program can save lives.

The S in Be SMART stands for Secure Guns in Your Home and Vehicle. If you have children, you know they are likely to find anything and everything that isn't securely stored.

The M stands for Model Responsible Behavior Around Guns. Talk to your children about firearms, even if you don't own one. This should be part of safety conversations, just like Stranger Danger, drugs and alcohol.

A means Ask About Firearms in Other People's Homes. Don't make assumptions. Simply ask: "If you have firearms, can you tell me if they are securely stored?" The Be SMART website (www.besmartforkids.org) gives tips on these conversations.

The R stands for Recognize the Role Guns Play in Suicide. Every 23 minutes, someone in Illinois dies by suicide by gun. Securing guns and preventing access during a crisis can save lives.

And lastly, the T stands for Tell Your Peers to Be SMART.

As a former teacher and now a mom of three, I am determined to see change. I'm talking to others about secure storage; I encourage you to do the same.

Megan Kivarkis

Glenview