In the wake of a recent gun-related tragedy at Annunciation Church and School, Eden Prairie's top brass—the Police Department and the local school district—have issued a clear message: Keep our kids safe through responsible gun storage. The collective plea comes as a firm reminder following a heart-wrenching incident, grounding their urgent appeal in both community concern and stark statistics that hover around the nation's pressing gun safety issue.
With nearly 360 children under 18 in America finding guns and causing harm unintentionally each year, the Be SMART program seems a beacon of sensibility—"a simple, effective tool to help ensure firearms are stored securely," as described in a joint statement released by Eden Prairie Police Department and Eden Prairie Schools. Available at the police department during business hours, these free gun locks are not just metal and mechanisms; they represent hope—hope to prevent the 1,700-plus guns stolen across Minnesota in 2021 from ending up in the wrong hands.
Secure storage of firearms is not only a moral plea but also a legal necessity in Minnesota. According to a bulletin on Eden Prairie's official website, state law casts a grim shadow on the negligent storage of loaded guns within a child's reach, making it a gross misdemeanor under Minnesota Statute Section 609.666. Chief Matt Sackett of the Eden Prairie Police Department and Superintendent Dr. Josh Swanson of Eden Prairie Schools unite in urging the community to adhere to responsible practices around firearms, including using gun locks, a resource further underscored by the Be SMART campaign—a national initiative urging responsible gun ownership to slash child gun deaths.
Eden Prairie's initiative is part of a grassroots effort to curtail a surge of accidental child shootings and thefts leading to gun crimes. "Thank you for partnering with us to keep our kids, schools, and community safe," Sackett and Swanson jointly expressed, according to a message provided by the city. The Be SMART website, also touted in their appeal, offers videos and resources to further educate and encourage secure gun storage practices, implicitly echoing a community's shared grief and a firm resolution to prevent future tragedies.
