PCCS : P-CCS Board Of Education Approves Resolution On Safe Storage Of Firearms

Press release from Plymouth-Canton Community Schools:

01/27/2022 4:35 PM

The Plymouth-Canton Community Schools Board of Education approved the following resolution concerning the safe storage of firearms at the Board's January 25th, 2022 meeting. The vote adopting the resolution was unanimous, and its text is below:

Meeting Date: January 25, 2022 Action Item #22-01-40

First and Final Reading

Resolution on the Safe Storage of Firearms
Plymouth-Canton Community Schools

Whereas, The safety and well-being of our students, teachers, and staff is a top priority of Plymouth-Canton Community Schools;

Whereas, In Michigan, gun violence is the second leading cause of death in children and teens;

Whereas, Evidence strongly suggests that secure firearm storage is an essential component to any effective strategy to keep schools and students safe;

Whereas, An estimated 5.4 million American children live in households with at least one loaded, unlocked firearm;

Whereas, Every year, roughly 350 children under the age of 18 unintentionally shoot themselves or someone else. That’s roughly one unintentional shooting per day, and 70 percent of these incidents take place inside a home;

Whereas, Another 1,200 children and teens die by gun suicide each year, most often using guns belonging to a family member;

Whereas, Research shows that secure firearm storage practices are associated with up to an 85 percent reduction in the risk of unintentional firearm injuries among children and teens;

Whereas, The U.S. Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center recommends the importance of appropriate storage of weapons because many school attackers used firearms acquired from their homes;

Whereas, Across the country, lawmakers, community members, and local leaders are working together to implement public awareness campaigns, such as the Be SMART program, which is endorsed by the National PTA and which encourages secure gun storage practices and highlights the public safety risks of unsecured guns;

Whereas, School districts across the country have begun to proactively send materials home to parents and guardians informing them of applicable firearm storage laws and firearm secure storage best practices;

Whereas, Keeping students, teachers and staff safe from the threat of gun violence should be the responsibility of all adult stakeholders at each of our school sites;

Whereas, In order to continue with preventative measures to increase student and school safety we must act now; now therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Board directs the Superintendent and staff to update the district website to include information about the secure storage of firearms;

Resolved further, That the Board directs the Superintendent to create an appropriate letter, to parents and guardians that explains the importance of secure gun storage to protect minors from accessing irresponsibly stored guns, to be included on the district website;

Resolved, That the Board and the Superintendent will continue to work with local law enforcement agencies, health agencies and non-profits to collaborate and increase efforts to inform District parents about secure storage of firearms in their homes.

It was moved by member Kehoe and seconded by member Brooks

To approve the resolution on secure storage notification:
Ayes: 7
Nays: 0

The motion was: Adopted

PDF of resolution text and vote: