Help protect children from improperly stored guns

We're partnering with pediatricians across our state to distribute free lockboxes to families with children.

Dear Jason, Nearly a quarter of all gun deaths of children occur inside the home, often due to an improperly stored firearm.    Seemingly every year we hear a heartbreaking story about a young child finding a parent's gun and accidentally shooting themselves, a sibling, or a friend, like the horrific tragedy of the death of a 5-year-old in Lewiston last year. What we don't hear are the teen suicide deaths that aren't in the headlines but devastate families in Maine with breathtaking regularity. Both are a result of unsafely stored firearms.  These deaths are preventable. Even a simple lockbox makes your home safer. In fact, one in three child gun-related deaths could be prevented by locking up guns. That's why we're partnering with pediatricians across our state to distribute free lockboxes to families with children.   We want to get these lockboxes into the hands of as many Maine gun owners with children as possible.  That's where you come in: With your help, we can purchase more boxes at $30 apiece and spread the word across the state to make sure that everyone knows about this life-saving program.    Can you pitch in to help support our lockbox partnership with pediatricians across Maine? DONATE Nearly half of adult Mainers own guns, which means that thousands of Maine children live in a home with a firearm.   And, while parents may believe that they have hidden their guns where their children can't find them, research shows that as many as 39% are mistaken.   Secure gun storage, such as lockboxes, has been shown to dramatically reduce unintentional gun deaths. By distributing lockboxes across the state, we can keep kids across Maine safe.    We need to purchase as many lockboxes as possible to meet the needs of our community, and now we need to make sure we get them out across the state.    Can you help make sure that every Mainer who needs it gets a gun lockbox? Every $30 we receive is one more gun out of the hands of children!   Thank you for helping keep our community safe,   Nacole Palmer, Executive Director Maine Gun Safety Coalition DONATE P.S. Interested in getting your own lockbox? You can find out more here. FIND US ONLINE  Paid for by Safe Schools, Safe Communities PO Box 92, Portland, ME 04112 mainegunsafety.org  If you believe you received this message in error or wish to no longer receive email from us, please unsubscribe.