3 days ago
Wear Orange Day: Community advocates stress importance of firearm safety locks
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — The Golisano Children's Hospital is teaming up with a number of community organizations today to raise awareness for gun control and responsible gun ownership.
It's all for Wear Orange Day: a national day dedicated to ending gun violence.
Since 2020, death by firearm injury has become the number one cause of death for people under age 19 in America — surpassing car crashes for the first time.
Golisano Children's Hospital and Strong Memorial treated 44 children for gunshot wounds in 2023.
The youngest was one year old.
'We're trying to normalize the conversation a little bit, especially with parents with younger kids to let them know that it's completely okay,' Pediatric Trauma Program Manager Adam Oplinger said. 'If your kid is going to a playdate, it's totally fine to ask the parents of their playmate 'Are their firearms in the house? If so, are they secure?' Kids are very curious and they find all kinds of things, and what we don't want them to find is an unsecured loaded firearm.'
At Friday's event, hospital staff and community advocates handed out gun safety locks for free to members of the public.
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