Geneva church hosts program on secure gun storage with Kane County Sheriff’s office, Be SMART
To help educate and promote safety regarding firearm storage, the Unitarian Universalist Society of Geneva, in conjunction with Be SMART and the Kane County Sheriff’s office, is inviting the community to attend a special free presentation from 7 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12, at the church’s historic building, 102 S. Second St. in downtown Geneva.
Both gun owners and non-gun owners are encouraged to attend as it is important to ask about the presence and storage method of firearms in homes your children and teens visit.
Two presentations will run simultaneously, one for adults and another for children and youth, in kindergarten to 12th grade. Both are packed with facts, with the goal being safety through education.
The presentation for adults highlights the importance of securely storing guns. Over 200,000 firearms are stolen annually in the U.S., with most of those being from vehicles.
“This is all about pro-safety and being responsible gun owners and parents,” said Steve McHugh, Kane/Kendall Be SMART lead and Illinois Chapter Be SMART co-lead. “Look no further than the fact that firearms are the leading cause of death for children in the U.S., and suicide by firearm has risen more among 10- to 19-year-olds than any other age group.”
Be SMART presents ways adults can model responsible behavior and ask about unsecured guns in homes our kids visit. We will also cover details of new Secure Storage laws that go into effect on Jan. 1.
During the Be SMART presentation for adults, Sgt. James Thrun of the Kane County Sheriff’s Office will be meeting with the children and youth.
Thrun is in charge of Kane’s training and firearms division. He and Deputy Eric Gustafson will share a curated message to kids, teaching and discussing gun and other safety measures. Thrun said, “The element we can control is preparedness through firearms safety and education, for both firearms owners, and their families alike."
Be SMART is a program developed by Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund to bring together parents and all adults concerned about kids, guns, and safety. More information can be found at BeSMARTforKids.org.
About the Unitarian Universalist Society of Geneva
Founded in 1842, the Unitarian Universalist Society of Geneva is the oldest church in town, part of a centuries-old liberal religious tradition that values reason and free thought over dogma and creed. It is a unique religious voice in the community, offering worship services and religious education programs that draw on diverse spiritual traditions, as well as outreach initiatives that advance social justice causes locally and around the world. Learn more at uusg.org.