“Gun owners must be responsible for their firearms and keep them secured. The last thing I want is to see a child get their hands on a weapon or for a gun to be used during a heated act of family violence, or stolen or used in a crime to harm an innocent person. I encourage all gun owners to use a gun safe and put firearms out of reach. My One Safe Houston hosts gun buyback programs in the community. Under the One Safe Houston Initiative, we have held two gun buybacks that have taken 2061 guns off the streets.”
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner
“Gun safety begins with locking up firearms, unloading stored weapons, and taking personal time to cool off so that heated moments don’t become destructive. The prophet Isaiah taught us to "beat (our) swords into plowshares, and (our) spears into pruning hooks" (2:4). We are instructed to turn weapons of destruction into tools for the greater good of society. Gun safety is about changing hearts and minds without weapons. Gun safety requires new skills to solve complicated problems with safer tools for better solutions. The responsibility rests in our hands to do it.”
Rabbi David Lyon, Congregation Beth Israel, Houston
“Each one of us must do our part. Roughly 3 in 4 children ages 5-14 with gun-owning parents know where firearms are stored and more than 1 in 5 have handled a gun in the home without their parents knowledge. We must normalize conversations about gun safety and do everything we can.”
Houston City Council Member Abbie Kamin
“Every month in 2022, well over 300 guns were stolen from vehicles in Houston. Those are disturbing numbers but there is an easy fix: safe gun storage. Let’s all work together to convince gun owners to store their guns safely.”
Houston Police Chief Troy Finner
“All it takes is one moment for children as young as 1 to pull the trigger of a handgun, and when a child is hit by a bullet that single moment sends an aftershock into the community that can never be pulled back. The damage goes well beyond the statistics. The good news is: this is not a random problem. It is something we can help prevent. Decisions to acquire, carry, point, or shoot a firearm come with enormous responsibility. As evolving gun laws give more people access to guns more often, we have seen an increase in gun violence of all types. Being a responsible gun owner is crucial because you are carrying the power of life and death.”
Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg
"Gun thefts from vehicles are one of the largest sources of guns to criminals in our community. So many tragedies could have been prevented if the gun owner had secured the firearm within their vehicle or home. If you don’t have the option to carry your firearm with you, there are numerous methods available to secure a firearm in a vehicle, such as a vehicle safe or a locking mechanism that can secure the firearms to a fixed part of a vehicle. Strong rights come with strong responsibilities; if you can’t secure your firearm in your vehicle, leave it secured at home."
Fred Milanowski, Special Agent in Charge of ATF Houston Field Division
"In an average year, more than 3647 Texans are killed with guns. In addition, guns are the leading cause of death for kids in the United States, but most of these deaths are preventable through awareness on secure gun storage. To learn how you can keep your family and community safe from gun violence, schedule a half-hour Be Smart (besmartforkids.org) presentation on secure gun storage today. Email: choustonbesmart@gmail.com"
Moms Demand Action
"Gun safety is not about taking away our rights; it's about protecting them. Responsible gun ownership means understanding that a firearm is a powerful tool that must be treated with respect and care. It means securing guns so that they can't be accessed by unauthorized individuals, and using them only in appropriate circumstances. It means being trained in how to handle guns safely, and understanding the legal and ethical implications of their use. Gun safety is not a partisan issue. It's an issue that affects all of us, regardless of our political beliefs or backgrounds. By promoting responsible gun ownership and advocating for common-sense measures, we can reduce the number of preventable tragedies that occur yearly. We can protect our families, our communities, and our fundamental right to bear arms."
Minaret Foundation