North Carolina's Child Fatality Task Force recently met with lawmakers to discuss ways to enhance the state's gun storage laws. The initiative aims to revise existing laws and secure additional funding for educating the public on safe gun storage practices.
William Lassiter, the deputy secretary for the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, emphasized the importance of quick and secure gun storage, likening it to the time it takes to fasten a seatbelt or secure a child in a safety seat.
Currently, firearms rank among the leading causes of child fatalities in North Carolina, with the state standing 12th in the nation for youth lives lost to gun violence.
The Task Force's recommendations for 2024 focus on bolstering firearm safe storage efforts by advocating for sustained funding for initiatives like the NC S.A.F.E. firearm safety campaign and the newly established NC Office of Violence Prevention. Additionally, the Task Force aims to strengthen the state's child access prevention law.
Furthermore, the Task Force is prioritizing suicide prevention and addressing the youth mental health crisis by seeking increased funding for school nurses, social workers, counselors, and psychologists. They also plan to support legislation targeting harmful social media algorithms affecting children.
Lawmakers are proposing changes to hold all gun owners accountable for safe gun storage, regardless of whether children reside in their homes. This recommendation includes allocating over $2 million in recurring funding for the NC S.A.F.E. campaign, which has already distributed 60,000 gun locks to promote responsible gun storage practices.
All proposals discussed during the meeting will be presented to the General Assembly, with Task Force members collaborating with lawmakers to translate these ideas into legislation.
