Tlaib, DeLauro, Frost, Kelly Introduce Safe Storage Saves Lives Act
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, during National Gun Violence Awareness Month, Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (MI-12),member of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, with Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Congressman Maxwell Frost (FL-10), and Congresswoman Robin Kelly (IL-02) reintroduced the Safe Storage Saves Lives Act to reduce firearm deaths in children.
Gun violence is now the leading cause of death for children and teens in the United States. Every year, nearly 22,000 children and teens are shot and killed or wounded, and approximately 3 million are exposed to gun violence. A significant portion of these deaths involve the accidental discharge of a firearm.
When used correctly, a gun lock or similar secure gun storage or safety device makes it impossible for a gun to be fired. These devices have already saved countless lives, and ensuring their use is key to combatting America’s gun violence crisis. Far too often, gun owners fail to properly secure their weapons with tragic consequences, leading to preventable suicides, accidental deaths, and on several occasions, school shootings and other acts of mass violence.
The Safe Storage Saves Lives Act would require a firearms seller to provide each purchaser with a compatible secure gun storage or safety device (commonly known as a “gun lock”) for every firearm they buy. It is critical that gun owners have these inexpensive devices for each of their firearms to prevent accidental shootings and deaths.
“It’s horrifying that 4.6 million children in our country live in homes with a loaded and unlocked firearm,” said Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib. “In Southeast Michigan, we have witnessed the deadly consequences of children having easy access to firearms in their homes. Safe storage is key to protecting our children from gun violence. The Safe Storage Saves Lives Act will require a gun lock to be included with every gun sold in the United States. We must move with the urgency this moment demands and pass commonsense gun safety legislation that will save lives.”
“Safe storage saves lives,” said Congresswoman DeLauro. “In 2018, my constituent, 14-year-old Ethan Song lost his life after finding an unsecured firearm. Thousands of Americans have lost their lives unnecessarily because of access to unsecured firearms. We have the moral responsibility to change that. Federal legislation like Ethan’s Law and the Safe Storage Saves Lives Act – which requires the safe storage of firearms – is not only common sense, but necessary. By enacting these policies, we will save lives.”
“It’s a proven fact that families and children are significantly safer from gun violence when firearms in the home are stored separately and securely,” said Congressman Maxwell Frost. “The Safe Storage Saves Lives Act has the ability to save hundreds of innocent lives a year by simply making it standard practice that every firearm sale also comes with a gun lock or gun safety device. An epidemic that claims over 100 lives a day demands an all-encompassing solution. This is a commonsense safety measure that all Americans should be able to get behind.”
“A vast majority of gun owners support safe storage because they know it’s key to a safe home; however, 4.6 million children still live in homes with at least one loaded and unlocked firearm,” said Congresswoman Kelly. “It only takes a second, and a child can unintentionally shoot themselves or others. Safe storage reduces suicide, unintentional shootings, theft, and the chance of a child taking a gun to school. This is a commonsense solution to keep our families and communities safe from the tragedy of gun violence”
“Gun violence has tragically become a defining part of the Gen Z experience. We have not only become desensitized to firearm deaths, but it’s also become the leading cause of death for American children and teens,” said Jackson Hurley, Senior Director for Strategy of Voters of Tomorrow. “We cannot accept that. We believe children deserve to live long, happy lives. With over 4.5 million children living in households with at least one loaded and unlocked firearm, safe storage legislation is a crucial step in solving this crisis. Voters of Tomorrow is proud to support the Safe Storage Saves Lives Act. We are committed to pushing for the success of this legislation and will always advocate for gun violence prevention.”
This legislation is also cosponsored by: Representatives Julia Brownley (CA-26), Ed Case (HI-01), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), Joe Courtney (CT-02), Danny Davis (IL-07), Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Jahana Hayes (CT-05), Henry C. (“Hank”) Johnson, Jr. (GA-04), Summer Lee (PA-12), Ted Lieu (CA-36), Stephen Lynch (MA-08), LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Deborah Ross (NC-02), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Melanie Stansbury (NM-01), Emilia Sykes (OH-13), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Jill Tokuda (HI-02), Ritchie Torres (NY-15), Lauren Underwood (IL-14), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12).
This legislation is endorsed by: Everytown For Gun Safety, Voters of Tomorrow, Giffords, Brady: United Against Gun Violence, Gen-Z for Change, End Gun Violence Michigan Coalition, No Future Without Today, LGBT Detroit, Charles W. Reid Community Help Center, Michigan Conference of The United Methodist Church, L.I.F.E. – Lock It For Everyone, Plymouth First United Methodist Church, Women’s Center of Greater Lansing, and Asian & Pacific Islander American Vote – Michigan.
A copy of the legislation can be found here.
###