East Arapahoe News

Watch Crow’s Full Remarks on ASK Day 

WASHINGTON — Congressman Jason Crow (CO-06), combat veteran and Vice Chair of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, introduced a resolution designating June 21 as National Asking Saves Kids (ASK) Day – a day to share the message of safe firearms storage and to encourage parents to ask if their children will be visiting a home with an unsecured gun. June 21 is the start of the summer when children are out of school and tend to spend more time at the homes of friends and families. 

Firearms are the leading cause of death of children in this country. In the United States, 4.6 million children live in homes with access to unsecured guns, and as a result, thousands of children are injured or killed every year. Among children, 89% of unintentional shooting deaths occur in the home. Additionally, 76% of school shootings are facilitated by kids having access to unsecured and/or unsupervised firearms at homes.

To address this public health crisis, parents and guardians can ask: “Is there a gun in the home where my child will play?” This simple but life-saving question is an important step parents can take to keep their children safe.

Developed in partnership with the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Brady Center’s ASK Campaign reminds parents and caregivers of the importance of asking about unsecured guns and encourages practicing safe storage of firearms — out of the reach of children in a locked safe with ammunition stored separately.

June 21’s resolution builds on Congressman Crow's ongoing fight for commonsense gun violence prevention. Recently, Crow introduced legislation to help clear the path to justice for victims and survivors of gun violence by removing barriers to holding gun industry actors accountable for negligence and disregard for public safety, and reintroduced the Closing the Loophole on Interstate Firearm Sales Act, first developed a month after a woman from Florida infatuated by Columbine caused statewide-panic in Colorado in 2019. Last Congress, Crow co-led efforts to ensure proper implementation of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, legislation he helped pass into law in 2022 and the first comprehensive gun safety reform package in nearly 30 years. 

In his remarks, Congressman Crow said: 

“During my three combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, I learned how dangerous firearms can really be. I also learned the importance of gun safety. In the Army, I was taught to be accountable for my gun. I was taught how to clean it, maintain it, and most importantly how to make sure it was secured safely at all times.

“As a father, I constantly worry about my children. That’s why every parent has the right to ask when their children go to another home, questions like, ‘Is there adult supervision? Are allergies taken care of? What’s the use of internet or video games or TV access?’

“That’s why parents always have the right to ask, ‘Is there a gun in the house? And if so, how is it stored?’

“With 4.6 million children in the U.S. living in homes with access to an unlocked or unsupervised gun, you just can’t be willing to take that chance.

“Ask: Is there a gun where my child will play? It’s a simple question, but could save a life. Ask.”

Read the full text of the resolution here. 

Original source can be found here