Dear GRPS families —
As we draw this school year to a close, I want to share some important information with you regarding the safety of our children and the presence of guns in our community.
My ask is serious but simple: If you have guns in your home, please lock them up. It is absolutely critical that these weapons are kept away from our children.
We have seen far too often the devastating consequences that can result from firearms getting into the hands of our young people.
As we go into the summer months, many of our children will have more time at home and more opportunities to search and explore.
As adults, it is our responsibility to ensure that those things that can harm them are not readily accessible.
Please take a moment to review the gun safety information below. Consider sharing it with your friends and those you love.
Ensuring the safety of our children takes commitment from all of us. I know we agree that they are worth it.
Have a wonderful, relaxing, and safe summer.
Sincerely,
Leadriane Roby, Ph.D.
Superintendent
Grand Rapids Public Schools
Grand Rapids Public Schools
Gun Safety Tips
Everything you need to know about keeping kids safe around guns.
We need to take extra precautions when kids are in an environment where guns are present.
Store Guns & Ammunition Safely
- Store guns in a locked location, unloaded, out of the reach and sight of children.
- Store ammunition in a separate locked location, out of the reach and sight of children.
- Keep the keys and combinations hidden.
- When a gun is not being stored, it should be on your person and in your immediate control at all times. Otherwise, a gun should always be stored, locked, unloaded, and separate from ammunition.
- Make sure all guns are equipped with effective, child-resistant gun locks.
- If a visitor has a gun in a backpack, briefcase, handbag, or an unlocked car, provide them with a locked place to hold it while they are in your home.
- Leaving guns on a nightstand, table, or other place where a child can gain access may lead to injuries and fatalities.
Talk to Your Kids and Their Caregivers
- Explain how a gun your children might see on television or in a video game is different from a gun in real life.
- Teach kids never to touch a gun and to immediately tell an adult if they see one.
- Talk to grandparents and the parents of friends your children visit about gun safe storage practices.
Dispose of Guns You Don't Need
- If you decide that you no longer need to have a gun in your home, dispose of it in a safe way. Consult with law enforcement in your community on how to do so.
FREE gun locks are available at the Grand Rapids Police Department, Kent County Sheriff's Department and many neighborhood association offices.
Gun safety tips courtesy of Safe Kids Worldwide