For the Love of Our Children, ASK
Category : Blog
June 21, 2016
Q: ASK what?
A: Today is Asking Saves Kids (ASK) Day. A day created to increase awareness and understanding in an effort to prevent injuries and deaths from guns that are stored unsafely in homes.
To be absolutely clear, this is a post about the safety of our children (period).
Within each house is a home filled with a family.
I grew up in a home with a father who was a Marine. YES, there were guns in our home.
Were there safety measures implemented in our home? YES
I spent my summers at a sleep away camp owned by my parents. YES, there was riflery.
Were there safety measures implemented at our camp? YES
Do accidents happen? YES.
Can more accidents be prevented? YES.
Did we ask these questions when our children went to the homes of friends? YES
Did any accidents happen anyway? YES
Once with a BB gun.
Do you think we need to ask about BB guns too? YES!
As a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) who has spent the last 37 years with children and their families, I know the following statements to be true.
Children know that their parents have guns in the home. How do I know? Children, as young as 3, have told me.
Parents are surprised.
Children know where their parents keep the guns. How do I know? Children, as young as 3, have told me.
Parents are surprised.
Children know where the ammunition is “hidden”. How do I know? Children, as young as 5, have told me.
Children can climb. Children are creative. Children are inquisitive. Children are fast. Children find guns.
Not all guns are secured.
Some guns are loaded.
Accidents happen…
Accidents (maybe not all, but more) can be prevented.
For the love of our children, learn & watch more HERE and ASK.
Thank you to the American Academy of Pediatrics, Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, and Healthy Children for empowering parents and families to ask the right questions.
Let’s keep our children safe. Let’s be the adults. Let’s ASK. Let’s save lives.
To all our children ~
Be Happy… The Best is Yet to Come…
A hopeful day in the life of this SLP,