Following Advocacy from Texas Moms Demand Action Volunteers, Frisco Independent School District Passes Secure Storage Resolution

The Texas chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety’s grassroots network, released the following statement after Frisco Independent School District (ISD) voted last night to pass a resolution to require district schools to send home information on secure firearm storage and require parents and caretakers to sign a document of acknowledgement. Frisco ISD includes more than 66,000 students and is the first suburban school district in Texas to pass such a resolution. Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action volunteers advocated tirelessly for the resolution’s passage, testifying in support of the measure even in the face of extremist opposition. The decision is the latest in a string of recent efforts by school districts across the state to educate parents and caretakers about the importance of secure firearm storage.

“It’s not partisan or controversial, it’s common sense,” said Kat Vargas, a volunteer with the Texas chapter of Moms Demand Action who testified in support of the resolution. “Taking the simple steps to ensure that firearms are securely stored can be the difference between life and death for kids across our district, and we applaud Frisco ISD for prioritizing the safety of our families and taking this life-saving step.”

Secure firearm storage in homes is one of the most effective tools to keep children and teens safe from gun violence. According to research from the National Threat Assessment Center, up to 76% of school shooters obtain their gun from their home or the home of relatives. In addition to preventing gun violence on school grounds, research shows that secure firearm storage also plays a vital role in reducing unintentional shootings and gun suicide. Every year, hundreds of American children gain access to firearms and unintentionally shoot themselves or someone else. Over the past decade, the firearm suicide rate among young people has increased faster than in any other age group, and today, it’s at a near all-time high. By keeping firearms securely stored, gun owners can help mitigate the risk of gun violence in and out of schools.

Over the past two years, volunteers with Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, in partnership with Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund, have successfully urged school boards across the country, covering millions of students, to enact such notification policies, including school districts in Vermont, Texas, California, Arizona, Oregon, South Carolina, Georgia and Colorado. This work is part of Everytown’s comprehensive approach to keeping schools safe from all forms of gun violence.

More information on the role that secure storage can play in helping prevent gun violence is available here. 

If you would like to speak to a volunteer with Texas Moms Demand Action or Students Demand Action, please do not hesitate to reach out.