Gun violence is an epidemic in America. Outdoor concerts, theaters, stores, churches, clubs and especially schools have become targets, and lawmakers aren’t really addressing the violence in a meaningful way, so we are all left to wait until the next shooting occurs.
And it will.
It’s a terrible thought, and many parents in southeast Michigan (and across the country) may feel helpless about what they can do to protect their children. There are ways that you can prepare yourself and your children for this reality while working to put an end to this distinctly American problem.
Enter our guide to gun violence and gun safety. Here, you will learn all about gun violence in America — that is the actual facts and stats without influence from outside groups — tips on how to keep your household firearm away from kids, how to support gun safety efforts in our area, local stories from those affected by gun violence and much more.
It doesn’t matter which end of the political spectrum you identify with, we should all agree that kids being murdered in the classroom and dying from guns is a problem no one should tolerate and work together to end the gun violence epidemic in America. We hope this guide helps that mission.
Our kids’ lives depend on it.
What Parents Need to Know
There’s so much information floating around about gun violence in America. Some of it is based in fact, some of it is based on feelings and some of it is based on propaganda, so how is a parent supposed to decipher it all in order to stand up for their children?
Here, we break down some of the statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and offer information surrounding guns in America, mental health data as it relates to guns and violence, and other details that parents should know.
You’ll even get tips on talking to your kids about gun violence when it occurs, what your kids are learning to do, the warning signs a child could turn to violence and whether products like bullet-proof backpacks are actually worth it.
Those who see Gun Violence as a very big or Major problem
82%
of Black adults
58%
of hispanic adults
39%
of white adults
18%
of Republicans and Republican leaning independents
73%
of Democrats and Democratic leaning independents
Voices and Local Stories
Gun violence has touched southeast Michigan in many different ways. Some families, like those in Oxford, have witnessed the horror of gun violence first-hand, others are outraged by the lack of action over the years and still others simply worry every time they let their kids leave the house.
These stories from our community are important, so we’re giving them a space to be told.
Flip through this section of the guide to discover how local families are being impacted by gun violence, how local groups are stepping up to support victims and how southeast Michigan parents feel about it all.
Gun Safety Tips
Whether you love guns or hate them, the Second Amendment protects them and they aren’t going away. How can parents who don’t want their kids around guns — or those who have guns in their home — prevent accidents and keep firearms out of a potential shooter’s hands?
We spoke to the experts and compiled the below posts to provide you with the best gun safety tips.
From what safety measures your child’s school has in place and how to keep your gun locked up to having a healthy discussion about gun safety and talking to kids about active shooter trauma, we have you covered.
