CHRISTIANSBURG – Volunteers from The Gun Aware Project will be attending the upcoming open house events held at all Montgomery County Public Schools.
As part of its mission to promote the safe storage of firearms and prevent gun violence, volunteers from the Gun Aware Project will be distributing free gun locks to community members.
This initiative is a collaborative effort with BeSMART, an organization dedicated to firearm safety education. Together, the Gun Aware Project and BeSMART aim to raise awareness about the importance of secure firearm storage and provide practical tools to help families and individuals safeguard their homes.
“We are excited to partner with BeSMART and take proactive steps to ensure our community is informed about gun safety,” Co-Founder of GAP Karen Fischer said. “By providing free gun locks, we hope to reduce the risk of accidental shootings and unauthorized access to firearms, particularly by children.”
In addition to distributing gun locks, GAP volunteers will be available to answer questions regarding the safe storage of firearms. The goal is to equip attendees with the knowledge and resources needed to store firearms safely and responsibly.
“We strive to keep our students and the Montgomery County community safe from gun violence,” MCPS Superintendent Bernard F. Bragen, Jr. said. “We are committed to taking action to educate our children and parents about the importance of safe gun storage.”
In April 2024, the MCPS School Board passed a resolution requiring MCPS to notify parents of their legal requirement to safely secure firearms. Virginia Code 18.2-56.2. states: “It shall be unlawful for any person to recklessly leave a loaded, unsecured firearm in such a manner as to endanger the life or limb of any child under the age of 14. Any person violating the provisions of this subsection shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.”
MCPS
