Arlington Officials Release Open Letter On Gun Violence, Safety

ARLINGTON, MA — Arlington Police Chief Julie Flaherty and Director of Health and Human Services Christine Bongiorno have released an open letter to the community on gun violence and safety.

In the letter, the two local officials recognize recent events involving gun violence and ask community members to take steps to make Arlington a safer place.

"Recent events involving gun violence in communities across our country, particularly the events in Uvalde, Buffalo and the events that occurred over the long weekend in Highland Park and Philadelphia, have been devastating to our families, communities and our country,” Flaherty and Bongiorno wrote. "These senseless acts of violence are unacceptable and preventable."

"Here in Massachusetts we have some of the strongest gun laws in the nation, but there is so much more that can be done,” they continued. "In Arlington, as community leaders, we are committed to working together to gather local data, conduct community education and continue to partner with organizations that work to prevent gun violence. The safety and security of all community members is critically important to us and we are committed to protecting our children and our community at large."

Here are some gun safety precautions outlined in the letter:

Securing firearms

Under Massachusetts law, any type of firearm must be stored and secured in a locked container or with a tamper-resistant mechanical lock or other safety device that makes the weapon inaccessible and inoperable by anyone other than a legally authorized user. Improperly stored firearms are exceedingly dangerous when accessible to minors, and fines and punishments increase when weapons are stored in a place where a minor is able to acquire access to the weapon.

Ask about firearms in homes

Before children visit a friend's home for the first time, parents should ask the friend’s parent or guardian if there are firearms in the home and if they are stored securely.

Turn in unwanted firearms

Along with properly storing firearms, turning in unwanted firearms helps to prevent tragedy and violence by ensuring they do not fall into the wrong hands. Any community member who would like to safely dispose of a firearm in their home may contact the Arlington Police Department.

Speak up

If you see something, say something. If anyone in the community becomes aware of a threat, whether it be verbal, on social media or by any other means, report it to police.

"Gun violence is preventable, and though we are fortunate to live in a state with many protective measures, there is more we can do, and we can all play a part in safeguarding our community,” Flaherty and Bongiorno said.

Anyone with questions regarding firearm safety may contact the Arlington Police Department at 781-643-1212.