Healthy Communities Council released the following official statement in support of the Be Smart initiative, which encourages responsible firearm ownership and handling by creating awareness around and reminders to gun owners to make sure their firearms are kept unloaded and locked-up when not in use. 

Gun Safety Statement

Whereas:

• Gun ownership in households with children has increased  in the Columbus Regional Health service area that includes Bartholomew, Jennings and Jackson County (2021 Community Health Needs Assessment p. 98)
• In these counties, half of households with children have a gun in or near the home, and of these 23 percent are self-reported to be loaded and unsecured. (2021 Community Health Needs Assessment p. 98)
• Nationally, firearms are now the leading cause of death for children and adolescents (American Academy of Pediatrics)
• Over 80 percent of child firearm suicides involved a gun belonging to a family member. (American Academy of Pediatrics)

Therefore:

Columbus Regional Health Healthy Communities Council recognizes unintentional and intentional gun deaths and injuries as a public health crisis. We support a comprehensive health approach including education on safe use of firearms, distribution of gun locks and other strategies for injury prevention and harm reduction to keep families and our community safe.