Gun Safety with the RAC: Save our Children
Each year, there is a growing number of stories about kids being injured or killed due to a firearm that was improperly stored or locked away. It's fair to say that most of our hearts sink when we see these news stories. We shake our heads and our eyes tear up over the senseless loss of young lives. Our hearts go out to the families of the young victims. And then, the news marches on to the next story, next sound byte, next piece of breaking news.
Senseless Losses
The news story may be over, but the pain for those families has only just begun. After the news stories fade away, the families are faced with funeral arrangements, burials and heartbreaking grief. As a Child and Family Therapist, I am often called upon to bear witness to the pain of these families; to companion them in their grief and to walk the long, arduous journey alongside them. I have been called to do this far more often than I should have.
And it is senseless. 100% preventable. The RAC can change everything. But, more about that later.
Let's take a look at some of the shocking statistics about guns:
* 1.69 MILLION KIDS LIVE IN HOMES WITH LOADED AND UNLOCKED GUNS
* MOST GUN ACCIDENTS OCCUR WHEN CHILDREN FIND FIREARMS AT HOME LOADED AND UNSECURED
* IN 2005 THERE WERE 16,298 KIDS KILLED/INJURED BY GUNS
* DURING THE LAST TEN YEARS 1,213 KIDS COMMITTED SUICIDE EACH YEAR WITH A FIREARM
* 28% OF GUN OWNING HOUSEHOLDS WITH CHILDREN DO NOT ALWAYS KEEP GUNS LOCKED IN A SECURE PLACE
*TWO-THIRDS OF THE STUDENTS INVOLVED IN SCHOOL SHOOTINGS GOT THEIR GUNS FROM HOME
* 36% OF TEENAGERS SAY THEY COULD OBTAIN A HANDGUN
* TWO-THIRDS OF STUDENTS IN GRADES 6-12 SAY THEY COULD GET A GUN IN 24 HOURS
* 6% OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS SAID THEY HAD CARRIED A GUN IN THE LAST 30 DAYS
* 90% OF STOLEN GUNS ARE NEVER RECOVERED
* 80% OF AMERICANS THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO REDUCE CHILDREN'S ACCESS TO GUNS
(Statistics located on the RAC website.)
Changing the statistics can be as easy as changing how we store and secure firearms. And the RAC is a patented way to do so. In fact, according to the company's website:
The RAC is the "ultimate" anti-theft gun storage and gun safety device. It is superior to other gun locks, gun safes, trigger locks, gun boxes and gun cable locks. It securely locks the gun and its patented mounting system allows you to atach the unit to a wall stud or other suitable location to prevent the firearm from being taken.
Protect our youth, secure your firearms properly every time. The RAC can help you do just that.
There is enough grief in the world. It would be nice to never again have to help a grieving parent who is bereaved due to the loss of their child by an unsecured firearm. Spread the word.
(*I received a sample of two RAC units to see for myself how sturdy they are, as well as how easy they are to use and install. The RAC secures more than firearms. It can be used to safely store power tools and more.)
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| Protect children from firearms with the RAC. |
Youth Firearm DeathsEach year, there is a growing number of stories about kids being injured or killed due to a firearm that was improperly stored or locked away. It's fair to say that most of our hearts sink when we see these news stories. We shake our heads and our eyes tear up over the senseless loss of young lives. Our hearts go out to the families of the young victims. And then, the news marches on to the next story, next sound byte, next piece of breaking news.
 |
| The pain for the grieving family has just begun. |
Senseless Losses
The news story may be over, but the pain for those families has only just begun. After the news stories fade away, the families are faced with funeral arrangements, burials and heartbreaking grief. As a Child and Family Therapist, I am often called upon to bear witness to the pain of these families; to companion them in their grief and to walk the long, arduous journey alongside them. I have been called to do this far more often than I should have.
And it is senseless. 100% preventable. The RAC can change everything. But, more about that later.
Let's take a look at some of the shocking statistics about guns:
* 1.69 MILLION KIDS LIVE IN HOMES WITH LOADED AND UNLOCKED GUNS
* MOST GUN ACCIDENTS OCCUR WHEN CHILDREN FIND FIREARMS AT HOME LOADED AND UNSECURED
* IN 2005 THERE WERE 16,298 KIDS KILLED/INJURED BY GUNS
* DURING THE LAST TEN YEARS 1,213 KIDS COMMITTED SUICIDE EACH YEAR WITH A FIREARM
* 28% OF GUN OWNING HOUSEHOLDS WITH CHILDREN DO NOT ALWAYS KEEP GUNS LOCKED IN A SECURE PLACE
*TWO-THIRDS OF THE STUDENTS INVOLVED IN SCHOOL SHOOTINGS GOT THEIR GUNS FROM HOME
* 36% OF TEENAGERS SAY THEY COULD OBTAIN A HANDGUN
* TWO-THIRDS OF STUDENTS IN GRADES 6-12 SAY THEY COULD GET A GUN IN 24 HOURS
* 6% OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS SAID THEY HAD CARRIED A GUN IN THE LAST 30 DAYS
* 90% OF STOLEN GUNS ARE NEVER RECOVERED
* 80% OF AMERICANS THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO REDUCE CHILDREN'S ACCESS TO GUNS
(Statistics located on the RAC website.)
Changing the statistics can be as easy as changing how we store and secure firearms. And the RAC is a patented way to do so. In fact, according to the company's website:
The RAC is the "ultimate" anti-theft gun storage and gun safety device. It is superior to other gun locks, gun safes, trigger locks, gun boxes and gun cable locks. It securely locks the gun and its patented mounting system allows you to atach the unit to a wall stud or other suitable location to prevent the firearm from being taken.
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| The RAC multi-unit stores several firearms. |
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| The RAC originated in Michigan. |
There is enough grief in the world. It would be nice to never again have to help a grieving parent who is bereaved due to the loss of their child by an unsecured firearm. Spread the word.
(*I received a sample of two RAC units to see for myself how sturdy they are, as well as how easy they are to use and install. The RAC secures more than firearms. It can be used to safely store power tools and more.)
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