HomeMy WebLinkAbout091223-03.1 Handout-Michelle Petersen Safe Storage Study Session
Thank you to the town of Danville and members of the Council for
agreeing to hold this study session. My name is Michelle Petersen, and
have an 11-year-old son in SRVUSD. 1 wanted to start by r e 1V//rq
facts about child related gun violence and school shootings:
s. Each day 12 children die from gun violence in America. Another 32
are shot and injured.
2. Guns are the leading cause of death among American children and
teens. 1 out of 10-gun deaths are age 19 or younger
3. Firearm deaths occur at a rate more than 5 times higher than
drownings
4. Since Columbine in 1999, more than 338,000 students in the U.S.
have experienced gun violence at school
5. There were more school shootings in 2022 -46- than in any year
since Columbine.
6. In up to 80% of incidents of gun violence on school grounds,
shooters obtain the guns from their own home, a relative's home
or from friends
7. Over 75% of firearms used in youth suicide attempts and
unintentional firearm injuries came from the residence of the
victim, a relative, or a friend
8. Perhaps the most chilling of all, in a recent study on youth
attitudes and guns, Young people report having easy
access to guns. About 40 percent of youth said they
have at least "somewhat easy" access to a gun, with 21
percent reporting "very easy" access to a gun. In
addition, nearly 17 percent of youth report that they
plan to have access to a firearm in the future.
As a leader for the local Moms Demand Action for Gun Safety in
America group, I have learned that the #1 thing we can do to keep our
children safe are safe storage laws.
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We are fortunate to live in California where there is a safe storage law in
place, but this law only applies in homes where children live. A recent
study shows that the perpetrators of school gun violence are students
or recent graduates. Recent graduates- meaning they are over the age
of 18. The law as it is written will not protect our children. This safe
storage ordinance will.
Sources
1. New England Journal of Medicine
2. U.S. Centers for Disease Control
3. New England Journal of Medicine
4. Washington Post
5. U.S. Department of Education and Secret Service
6. Journal of Urban Health
7.Journal of the Association of the American Academy of Pediatrics
8. Everytown 2023 Study, Youth Attitudes and Guns