A new national public awareness effort to educate gun owners and parents regarding the dangers of guns was launched on October 6 during a Washington, DC press conference.  The new campaign, entitled Common Sense About Kids and Guns, is being led by Victoria Reggie Kennedy and supported by a wide variety of organizations including The U.S. Conference of Mayors, child safety and welfare advocates, pediatricians, crime prevention advocates, and gun manufacturers.

The Common Sense effort will not address any legislative or legal issues, but rather gun safety education efforts aimed at adults and children.

As Mrs. Kennedy stated, "We hope to make unloading, locking and storing guns properly as automatic as buckling a seatbelt."  Mrs. Kennedy pointed out that the majority of unintentional shootings and suicides occur at or near the home, primarily with guns taken from family or friends.  In all but two of the recent high-profile school-related shootings, the shooters obtained their weapons from the homes of family or friends where the guns were not adequately secured.

In commenting on this new initiative, Mayor Wellington E. Webb of Denver, President of The U.S. Conference of Mayors, said, "In light of the alarming national statistics regarding intentional and accidental youth shootings, as well as youth suicides, it is essential that we unite in an effort to encourage gun owners to unload and lock their weapons, and lock and store ammunition separately so that children cannot gain access.  We must also help educate all parents of the need to speak with their children about the dangers of guns."

Mayor Webb added, "With more than 200 million guns in the United States, the issue of gun safety and parental responsibility must be a top national priority.  We cannot continue to lose an average of 12 young people a day due to gunshot wounds." 

Common Sense will educate the public about the dangers to children of unsupervised access to guns and provide the public with common sense safety steps.  The group will also act as an information clearinghouse through its web site, www.kidsandguns.org  and toll free number 1-877-955-KIDS.  Common Sense will use TV and radio public service announcements and print advertising to spread it's message recommending immediate, concrete steps parents and all adults can take to keep their kids safe.

According to a national survey performed for Common Sense by researchers Peter Hart and Associates, more than 40% of all American households contain at least one firearm.  Unfortunately, nearly one-third of gun owners admit to storing their weapons unlocked and loaded, and a least a quarter of these gun owners have children under 18 living at home.  Millions of firearms can be easily accessed without adult supervision by curious, depressed or angry children and teenagers. Common Sense believes that adults will alter their storage behavior when they understand the risks unsupervised access poses to their children.

"If our neighbor's gun had been locked up, Brian would be alive today," said Ann Marie Crowell, whose young son's tragic death at a neighbor's house in a firearm accident is featured in Common Sense's ad campaign.  "I want to prevent other parents from going through the pain I've experienced.  I say to all parents please follow these common sense safety steps.  The child you save may be your own."