Hi friends,

Gena Hoyer from Stand With Parkland here. Losing my son Luke in the horrific Parkland school massacre was one of the worst moments of my life, and I’ve dedicated myself to helping ensure no other parent has to bury their child because of firearm violence. 

Right now, lots of students and teachers are enjoying or about to enjoy a relaxing, fun-filled spring break – and I hope that it is a safe one as well. As kids are back home for a while longer before the school year ends, it can be helpful to double check that all firearms are stored safely and out of reach of children. We would like to remind you to visit our resources on responsible firearm storage to prevent accidents at home. It is also important to talk to your children about what they should and shouldn’t do if they see an unsecured firearm at a friend’s house. Keeping them safe can be as easy as 1, 2, 3:

1. Do not touch the gun

2. Do not let your friends touch it

3. Go get an adult

Friend, it is also a good time to make sure your school has answered the Five Questions Every Family Should Ask as the School Year Begins, which we created to be a starting point for an extended conversation families can have with school officials to ensure students’ safety. You can read about these Five Questions here. The sample answers you should get from your school officials are available free of charge at StandwithParkland.org. 

Stay safe,

— Gena Hoyer, Luke’s mom 

P.S. If you would like to help support our mission to keep our schools and communities safe, please make a contribution today. Together, we can create a future free of violence.

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