Gun safety program at Northland Library in McCandless to focus on kids

A local gun safety awareness group is working to keep unsecured guns from getting into the hands of children.

Be SMART Pittsburgh is presenting Be SMART for Kids on Feb. 2 at 6:30 p.m., at the Northland Public Library on Cumberland Road in McCandless.

Be SMART for Kids is a public health program developed by the Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund to bring together parents and adults concerned about kids, guns, and safety, said Kate Ledford, lead volunteer for Be Smart Pittsburgh.

“We’re a group of volunteers, mostly mothers, who dedicate our time to gun violence prevention. We believe strongly in the evidence-based practice of secure firearm storage and its effectiveness on reducing child and teen firearm injuries and deaths — including child and teen suicides,” Ledford said.

SMART is an acronym that stands for: Secure all guns in your homes and vehicles; Model responsible behavior around guns; Ask about unsecured guns in other homes; Recognize the role of guns in suicide; and Tell your peers to Be SMART.

“We believe that most gun owners want to be responsible gun owners, so our presentation focuses on what all of us, gun owners and non-gun owners alike, can do to make sure children and teens do not have unsupervised access to guns,” said Ledford, who lives in the South Hills of Pittsburgh.

At least 301 unintentional shootings by children occurred nationally in 2022, resulting in 133 deaths and 180 injuries, according to research done by nonprofit Everytown for Gun Safety.

Just in Pittsburgh, at least two gun-related incidents in 2022 involved youngsters. In May, a 6-year-old boy unintentionally shot and wounded himself at home. And, again in July, a 16-year-old unintentionally shot and wounded himself, according to www.everytownresearch.org.

Ledford said the organization’s volunteers partner with veterans groups and the UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, even gun ranges and gun shops, along with churches, libraries, and advocacy groups to give presentations, provide materials and gun locks. The organization also sponsors information tables at community events.

Be Smart Pittsburgh is part of the local Safe Kids Allegheny County community coalition along with UPMC, Ledford said.

Registration is required for the Feb. 2 event. Call the library 412-366-8100, ext. 113. or register through the library website at www.northlandlibrary.org. Or people can register in person.

“The presentation is meant to share and bring awareness to the Be SMART message and the five simple steps we can all take to keep our kids and communities safe,” Ledford said.

Be SMART Pittsburgh will be hosting a table at the Pittsburgh Auto Show next month and will be sharing educational materials and providing free gun locks.

Ledford said the group is always looking for interested adults to train and work with the Be Smart Pittsburgh group. Text SMART to 644-33 or email besmartpittsburgh@gmail.com for more information, to become a volunteer or request a free gun lock. More about the program can be found at besmartforkids.org.