PSA: The Right To Bear Arms

Why Own Firearms? 200,000 times a year women use a gun to defend against sexual abuse 3/5 polled felons say they wont mess with an armed victim Since 1950, every public mass shooting (with the exception just 1) in the U.S. has occurred in a place where civilians are banned from carrying firearms. If gun ownership becomes illegal, criminals will be the only ones not abiding. Thus, making it more dangerous. It is a fact that armed civilians prevent approximately 2 million crimes per year. More children die each year in swimming pool accidents than gun related accidents. “Firearms stand next in importance to the Constitution itself. They are the American people’s liberty teeth and keystone under independence…” - George Washington

Keeping guns out of hands of the wrong people! One critical way to reduce the amount of gun violence without taking advantage of the Second Amendment is to expand background checks to everyone who buys a firearm. Requiring universal strict background checks is good way we can keep our families safe. “40% of firearms are purchased online, from gun shows, unlicensed dealers and private sellers. In which non of these require a background check.”

Keeping Guns From Children

“More than 1.5 million children live in households where firearms are kept unlocked and loaded, and over 100 innocent kids are killed every year. Read this to make sure your child stays safe.“ – Parent Magazine Have you ever seen a kid make a gun gesture with their fingers? Most of you have, and it doesn’t take much strength for a child to pull the trigger either. 1 in 24 children in the USA die from gun-related injuries, which makes the gun the second leading cause of death in young people.

Statistics 1.7 million - The number of kids under age 18 who lived in homes with a loaded and unlocked firearm in (CDC) 31 - The percentage of U.S. households with at least one child and a gun in the home in (General Social Survey) 1,337 - The number of American kids under age 18 who died from gunshot wounds in This is trending down from 1,490 in 2005 and 1,544 in (CDC) 7,391 - The number of American kids and teens under age 20 who were hospitalized from firearm injuries in That means that on average a child or teen is shot almost every hour. (Yale School of Medicine)

98 - The number of American kids under age 18 who died from accidental shootings in This is trending down from 150 deaths in 2000 and 417 deaths in (CDC) 85 - Roughly the percentage of accidental shootings of children where the shooter was also a child in (Catherine Barber, MPA, Harvard School of Public Health) 80 - The percentage of accidental shooting victims who were boys in (CDC) 72 - The percentage of parents (both gun owners and non-gun owners) who say they have spoken to their children about gun hazards. (ABC News/Washington Post poll, May 2000) 14 - The number of states, along with the District of Columbia, that currently have laws that hold adults criminally liable if they fail to store guns safely, enabling children to access them. These states include California, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Rhode Island, and Texas. (Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence) 1 - The number of states with a law requiring gun owners to lock up their firearm. That state is Massachusetts. (Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence) From ABC NEWS

Tips to Keep Our Children Safe Gun are in 1/3 of U.S households which makes it easier for children to be in reach of these firearms. Educate your child on the dangers of guns. Explain that guns that are on tv, compared to real guns can actually be harmful. Tell your kids to never touch a gun, and contact an adult if they see one. Dispose of guns that aren’t needed. Store guns in a safe location, preferably locked up and out of children’s reach. Keep ammunition separate. Make sure guns are equipped with child resistant gun locks. Do not leave a gun out or unattended.

Talking About Gun Safety Teach your kids to follow these rules if they come into contact with a gun: STOP DO NOT TOUCH THE GUN LEAVE THE AREA WHERE THE GUN IS TELL AN ADULT IMMIATELY

Gun Safety Stressing the importance of guns is no joke. It is our job to keep our children protected by following tips on how to keep guns away and educating our children on how important it is to stay away from guns. Help prevent deaths and gun-related injuries.

“Keep guns out of the hands of criminals and the mentally unstable without infringing on anyone's constitutional rights.” 75 percent of NRA members believe concealed carry permits should only be granted to applicants who have not committed any violent misdemeanors, including assault. 68 percent of NRA members believe permits should only be granted to applicants who do not have prior arrests for domestic violence

How Can you Support Gun Control? Educate yourself on Gun Politics Write to your Rep. in Congress Vote for Politicians that have history of supporting Gun Control