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Fiream Safety

Sadly, in our country and community gun violence has become a common occurrence. When gun violence threatens the safety of schools, it is unsettling and disturbing for parents and educators. A gun in the wrong hands can lead to an unintentional shooting, suicide or homicide. Children are particularly at risk when there is a gun in the home, The School Board of Orange County is proactively reaching out to ask any gun owner to take steps in their own home that can protect our students from gun violence.

The Board strongly urges every parent who owns a gun to take the following precautions:

  • Never leave a gun unattended.
  • Unload firearms when not in use. Remove all ammunition from the firearm, including any rounds in the chamber.
  • Keep the firearm locked. Secure firearms with cable locks and store in a lockable safe.
  • Store ammunition in a lockbox or safe separately from firearms. Keep the keys to the firearms and ammunition storage in separate locations.
  • Talk with children about what to do if they see a gun. Make sure they know not to touch it, and to tell you or another responsible adult.

Please see the letter School Board Chair Teresa Jacobs and Superintendent Maria Vazquez prepared in regards to the proactive measures the district is taking to address safety in our schools and the importance of families taking precautions in their home to avoid a gun tragedy.

  • State law requires that firearm owners who know or reasonably should know that a person under the age of 16 is likely to gain access to the firearm without lawful permission must:

    • keep the firearm in a securely locked box or container;
    • keep the firearm in a location which a reasonable person would consider to be secure;
    • or secure the firearm with a trigger lock.
    • In Florida, a violation of this statute is illegal and is a second-degree misdemeanor.
    • (The Statute in its entirety can be accessed at Florida State Statute 790.174)

  • Contact an agency below to inquire about a free Safety Kit from Project ChildSafe.