Be SMART for Kids
@besmartforkids.bsky.social
The Be SMART program seeks to prevent suicide, school shootings, & unintentional shootings by kids & teens through secure gun storage. #BeSMART
Kids and unsecured guns can be a lethal combination. Simple conversations can help keep children out of harm’s way. Before your child visits another person's home, ask about the presence of guns and how they are secured.
Read our resource for asking about secure gun storage: https://etwn.us/4oFxWjX
Read our resource for asking about secure gun storage: https://etwn.us/4oFxWjX
December 9, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Kids and unsecured guns can be a lethal combination. Simple conversations can help keep children out of harm’s way. Before your child visits another person's home, ask about the presence of guns and how they are secured.
Read our resource for asking about secure gun storage: https://etwn.us/4oFxWjX
Read our resource for asking about secure gun storage: https://etwn.us/4oFxWjX
Did you know that cars parked at residences are the most common source of stolen guns? Each stolen firearm represents a weapon in the hands of a potential criminal, making all of us less safe.
Protect kids and communities by making sure firearms are always stored securely—in homes AND vehicles.
Protect kids and communities by making sure firearms are always stored securely—in homes AND vehicles.
November 30, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Did you know that cars parked at residences are the most common source of stolen guns? Each stolen firearm represents a weapon in the hands of a potential criminal, making all of us less safe.
Protect kids and communities by making sure firearms are always stored securely—in homes AND vehicles.
Protect kids and communities by making sure firearms are always stored securely—in homes AND vehicles.
This Thanksgiving Day, we're thankful for our incredible #BeSMART volunteers, who work tirelessly to keep our kids and families safe!
Our volunteers are saving lives by stopping preventable gun violence by children and teens. Thank you all for your amazing work!
Our volunteers are saving lives by stopping preventable gun violence by children and teens. Thank you all for your amazing work!
November 27, 2025 at 4:14 PM
This Thanksgiving Day, we're thankful for our incredible #BeSMART volunteers, who work tirelessly to keep our kids and families safe!
Our volunteers are saving lives by stopping preventable gun violence by children and teens. Thank you all for your amazing work!
Our volunteers are saving lives by stopping preventable gun violence by children and teens. Thank you all for your amazing work!
As you gather with family and friends this week, it's important to ask if all the firearms in the home and in vehicles are securely stored before visiting.
That means guns are stored unloaded, locked, and separate from ammunition. #BeSMART
That means guns are stored unloaded, locked, and separate from ammunition. #BeSMART
November 24, 2025 at 11:50 PM
As you gather with family and friends this week, it's important to ask if all the firearms in the home and in vehicles are securely stored before visiting.
That means guns are stored unloaded, locked, and separate from ammunition. #BeSMART
That means guns are stored unloaded, locked, and separate from ammunition. #BeSMART
A 5-year-old boy fatally shot himself while playing with his father's unsecured firearm in Jackson, Mississippi.
Tragedies like this are preventable. Adults are always responsible for ensuring the safety of the children in their care by storing guns unloaded, locked, and separate from ammunition.
Tragedies like this are preventable. Adults are always responsible for ensuring the safety of the children in their care by storing guns unloaded, locked, and separate from ammunition.
November 21, 2025 at 5:01 PM
A 5-year-old boy fatally shot himself while playing with his father's unsecured firearm in Jackson, Mississippi.
Tragedies like this are preventable. Adults are always responsible for ensuring the safety of the children in their care by storing guns unloaded, locked, and separate from ammunition.
Tragedies like this are preventable. Adults are always responsible for ensuring the safety of the children in their care by storing guns unloaded, locked, and separate from ammunition.
This National Injury Prevention Day, #BeSMART is proud to partner with @injuryfreekids.bsky.social, @safekidsworldwide.bsky.social, Safe State Alliance and other leaders in injury & violence prevention to shine a light on the devastating effects of predictable and preventable injuries. #BeInjuryFree
November 18, 2025 at 4:37 PM
This National Injury Prevention Day, #BeSMART is proud to partner with @injuryfreekids.bsky.social, @safekidsworldwide.bsky.social, Safe State Alliance and other leaders in injury & violence prevention to shine a light on the devastating effects of predictable and preventable injuries. #BeInjuryFree
A 4-year-old boy sustained life-threatening injuries after unintentionally discharging an unsecured firearm at a home in North Carolina.
Storing firearms unloaded, locked, and separate from ammunition can prevent these tragedies.
Storing firearms unloaded, locked, and separate from ammunition can prevent these tragedies.
November 15, 2025 at 6:54 PM
A 4-year-old boy sustained life-threatening injuries after unintentionally discharging an unsecured firearm at a home in North Carolina.
Storing firearms unloaded, locked, and separate from ammunition can prevent these tragedies.
Storing firearms unloaded, locked, and separate from ammunition can prevent these tragedies.
Secure firearm storage means guns should always be inaccessible to kids—that means storing them unloaded, locked, and separated from ammunition.
Learn more about secure firearm storage at besmartforkids.org
Learn more about secure firearm storage at besmartforkids.org
November 12, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Secure firearm storage means guns should always be inaccessible to kids—that means storing them unloaded, locked, and separated from ammunition.
Learn more about secure firearm storage at besmartforkids.org
Learn more about secure firearm storage at besmartforkids.org
That's roughly one shooting per day. Unintentional shootings by children aren't accidental—they're preventable.
#BeSMART helps parents and other adults normalize having conversations about gun safety and take responsible actions that can prevent unintentional shootings by children.
#BeSMART helps parents and other adults normalize having conversations about gun safety and take responsible actions that can prevent unintentional shootings by children.
November 7, 2025 at 5:17 PM
That's roughly one shooting per day. Unintentional shootings by children aren't accidental—they're preventable.
#BeSMART helps parents and other adults normalize having conversations about gun safety and take responsible actions that can prevent unintentional shootings by children.
#BeSMART helps parents and other adults normalize having conversations about gun safety and take responsible actions that can prevent unintentional shootings by children.
Happy Halloween! 👻 Be SMART volunteers have been talking to parents and caregivers about secure firearm storage at festive events across the country all month.
Talking about how and where guns are stored in their home doesn’t have to be scary! We’ve made it easy: https://etwn.us/47wsSrs
Talking about how and where guns are stored in their home doesn’t have to be scary! We’ve made it easy: https://etwn.us/47wsSrs
October 31, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Happy Halloween! 👻 Be SMART volunteers have been talking to parents and caregivers about secure firearm storage at festive events across the country all month.
Talking about how and where guns are stored in their home doesn’t have to be scary! We’ve made it easy: https://etwn.us/47wsSrs
Talking about how and where guns are stored in their home doesn’t have to be scary! We’ve made it easy: https://etwn.us/47wsSrs
Recognizing the role of guns in suicide is critical, and it’s clear that means matter―among commonly used methods of self-harm, firearms are by far the most lethal.
Removing access to firearms is the one of the most important interventions adults can take to prevent suicide by children and teens.
Removing access to firearms is the one of the most important interventions adults can take to prevent suicide by children and teens.
September 29, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Recognizing the role of guns in suicide is critical, and it’s clear that means matter―among commonly used methods of self-harm, firearms are by far the most lethal.
Removing access to firearms is the one of the most important interventions adults can take to prevent suicide by children and teens.
Removing access to firearms is the one of the most important interventions adults can take to prevent suicide by children and teens.
Research shows that an overwhelming majority of child firearm suicides take place in or around a home, and nearly 80% of these incidents involve a gun belonging to a family member.
September 25, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Research shows that an overwhelming majority of child firearm suicides take place in or around a home, and nearly 80% of these incidents involve a gun belonging to a family member.
School, relationships, anxiety, depression, and social media are just some of the stressors young people experience today.
September 18, 2025 at 1:03 PM
School, relationships, anxiety, depression, and social media are just some of the stressors young people experience today.
After forging a relationship with Dorchester County Health Department, our volunteers secured a $25,000 grant that will help purchase gun safes. Volunteers then distributed those safes and gun locks at our Wear Orange event, a library event, and other community events in Dorchester County.
September 17, 2025 at 7:21 PM
After forging a relationship with Dorchester County Health Department, our volunteers secured a $25,000 grant that will help purchase gun safes. Volunteers then distributed those safes and gun locks at our Wear Orange event, a library event, and other community events in Dorchester County.
Our Maryland Be SMART volunteers on the Eastern Shore have been collaborating with various departments of health to spread the life-saving message of secure firearm storage.
September 17, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Our Maryland Be SMART volunteers on the Eastern Shore have been collaborating with various departments of health to spread the life-saving message of secure firearm storage.
Guns are the number one killer of children in the US. What you may not know is that nearly one-third of child gun deaths are suicides, and over the past decade, the firearm suicide rate among young people has increased faster than among any other age group.
September 12, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Guns are the number one killer of children in the US. What you may not know is that nearly one-third of child gun deaths are suicides, and over the past decade, the firearm suicide rate among young people has increased faster than among any other age group.
More than 700 children under 18 living in the US die by gun suicide every year. The dynamics of suicide are complex, but one thing is clear: Easy access to a gun can make the difference between life and death.
September 8, 2025 at 1:01 PM
More than 700 children under 18 living in the US die by gun suicide every year. The dynamics of suicide are complex, but one thing is clear: Easy access to a gun can make the difference between life and death.
As the mother of two students who survived a school shooting, Emily Schiltz knows all too well the lasting impact a school shooting has on a family and a community.
She and others volunteers planned a week of events during SMART Week to spread the word about the importance of secure gun storage.
She and others volunteers planned a week of events during SMART Week to spread the word about the importance of secure gun storage.
September 5, 2025 at 2:30 PM
As the mother of two students who survived a school shooting, Emily Schiltz knows all too well the lasting impact a school shooting has on a family and a community.
She and others volunteers planned a week of events during SMART Week to spread the word about the importance of secure gun storage.
She and others volunteers planned a week of events during SMART Week to spread the word about the importance of secure gun storage.
Be SMART Visionaries exemplify the very best of what the program stands for. They have reached new members of their communities, developed innovative approaches to education and outreach, and embedded Be SMART as a foundational value where they live and lead.
September 3, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Be SMART Visionaries exemplify the very best of what the program stands for. They have reached new members of their communities, developed innovative approaches to education and outreach, and embedded Be SMART as a foundational value where they live and lead.
Thanks to everyone for making SMART Week a success! Over 1000 volunteers in 43 states came out to more than 500 #BeSMART events across the US, and advocates and partners at the local, state, & national levels teamed up to help us spread awareness about the critical importance of secure gun storage.
September 3, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Thanks to everyone for making SMART Week a success! Over 1000 volunteers in 43 states came out to more than 500 #BeSMART events across the US, and advocates and partners at the local, state, & national levels teamed up to help us spread awareness about the critical importance of secure gun storage.
September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. This month, we will call attention to the devastating impact of firearm suicide on young people in the US, and provide information about what we can do to prevent it.
September 1, 2025 at 12:03 PM
September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. This month, we will call attention to the devastating impact of firearm suicide on young people in the US, and provide information about what we can do to prevent it.
SMART Week has come to an end but it's vitally important to continue to educate others about the importance of secure gun storage year round. Text SMART to 644-33 to learn how you can become more involved.
August 29, 2025 at 4:04 PM
SMART Week has come to an end but it's vitally important to continue to educate others about the importance of secure gun storage year round. Text SMART to 644-33 to learn how you can become more involved.
The letter T in #BeSMART stands for telling your friends and neighbors to Be SMART.
Guns are the leading cause of death for children and teens in the US. We can’t afford to stay silent.
Guns are the leading cause of death for children and teens in the US. We can’t afford to stay silent.
August 29, 2025 at 12:01 PM
The letter T in #BeSMART stands for telling your friends and neighbors to Be SMART.
Guns are the leading cause of death for children and teens in the US. We can’t afford to stay silent.
Guns are the leading cause of death for children and teens in the US. We can’t afford to stay silent.
School shootings are every parent’s nightmare. We’ve seen time and again that when guns aren’t properly stored, tragedy can strike—and the research backs that up. In fact, roughly 76 percent of school shooters under 18 gained access to the gun used from the home of a parent or close family member.
August 28, 2025 at 4:02 PM
School shootings are every parent’s nightmare. We’ve seen time and again that when guns aren’t properly stored, tragedy can strike—and the research backs that up. In fact, roughly 76 percent of school shooters under 18 gained access to the gun used from the home of a parent or close family member.
In incidents of school shootings, data shows that shooters are often current or former students and that the guns they use are most often obtained from their home or the homes of their relatives. Securing guns plays a huge role in keeping our schools safe.
August 27, 2025 at 4:03 PM
In incidents of school shootings, data shows that shooters are often current or former students and that the guns they use are most often obtained from their home or the homes of their relatives. Securing guns plays a huge role in keeping our schools safe.