Today, in collaboration with the Wake County Public School System, NC S.A.F.E. announced the launch of a new program named NC S.A.F.E. for Schools. This initiative aims to aid school districts in North Carolina in communicating with parents about the safe storage of firearms. The program was introduced during a press conference at Garner Magnet High School featuring speakers from NC S.A.F.E., educational and law enforcement organizations, the Attorney General of North Carolina, Jeff Jackson, and the North Carolina Department of Public Safety (NCDPS).
Firearms have become the leading cause of injury-related deaths among children in North Carolina. This program aims to provide essential support to schools and families by supplying school districts with resources to emphasize the importance of securely storing firearms to protect children.
In 2024, North Carolina recorded at least 12 incidents involving shootings in schools, resulting in one death and nine injuries. Approximately 42% of adults in North Carolina have a firearm in or near their homes; over half of these firearms are stored loaded and unlocked. This unsafe storage creates a dangerous situation for students statewide. Nearly 30% of high school students in North Carolina reported they could access and fire a loaded gun within an hour without parental or adult consent.
“School administrators and educators are already leaders in their communities, making them ideal advocates for this cause who can share information about safe storage of firearms,” said William Lassiter, Deputy Secretary of the Division JJDP of NCDPS. “The NC S.A.F.E for Schools program will provide important resources to school districts, and ultimately, to parents, with hopes of creating safer school campuses and communities.”
The NC S.A.F.E. for Schools program provides various resources, including brochures and videos, to facilitate conversations about safe firearm storage. It also includes email content, newsletters, and customizable resources for school districts to share with parents. One of the resources, the Parent Conversation brochure, offers advice on instructing children on what to do if they find a firearm. It also provides guidance on starting dialogues with other parents about safe firearm storage. The program has introduced a new series of videos highlighting stories from parents. In one, a parent shares how safe firearm storage practices saved his child’s life, and in another, a parent discusses the tragic loss of a child due to an unsecured firearm in someone else’s home.
The NC S.A.F.E. campaign is supported by the NCDPS and is not affiliated with any advocacy efforts regarding firearm laws or regulations. The resources are relevant and accessible to all parents and communities.
The Wake County Public School System has begun distributing NC S.A.F.E. resources to schools during the current academic year.
“Having decided as a school system to educate our community on the importance of safe firearm storage for student protection, whether through educational brochures, disseminating useful information via digital communication, or distributing materials to school resource officers, the NC S.A.F.E. materials have been invaluable to our mission,” said Dr. Robert P. Taylor, the inspector of Wake County Public School System.
NC S.A.F.E. for Schools also aims to assist other districts in promoting safe firearm storage, contributing to safer school environments and increased community trust. These resources are free, easy to use, and readily accessible. For more information about NC S.A.F.E. and available materials, please scroll to the end of the page.
###
