Congressman Dan Goldman Commends Distribution of Safe Firearm Storage Resources to NYC Public Schools

Follows Goldman’s Press Conference with Mayor Adams, Chancellor Banks Announcing New York City Public Schools’ Intention to Distribute Lifesaving Materials

Earlier this Month, Congressman Goldman Requested Information from Chancellor Banks on NYC Public Schools’ Plans to Distribute New Biden Administration Resources on Safe Firearm Storage

Four Children Injured or Killed by Unintentional Shooting in New York in 2024 to Date

Read New York Public Schools’ Email to Parents Here

New York, NY – Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) today commended the New York City Public Schools’ distribution of resources that detail safe firearm storage to New York City Public Schools parents. These resources were created by the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention to help parents understand how to better maintain and store firearms, thereby avoiding unintentional gun discharges.

NYC Public Schools’ action follows Congressman Goldman’s letter to NYC Public Schools Chancellor David Banks requesting an update on NYC Public Schools’ plan to distribute these resources throughout the district. Earlier this month, alongside Congressman Maxwell Frost (FL-10), New York City Mayor Eric Adams, New York City Public Schools Chancellor David Banks, and gun violence prevention and parental advocates, Congressman Goldman announced New York City Public Schools’ intention to distribute the resources.

“I am proud that following my request, New York City Public Schools has become one of the first public school districts to have successfully distributed life-saving safe storage materials to families,” Congressman Dan Goldman said. “We know that when firearms are properly secured, children are 85 percent less likely to be victims of an unintentional shooting. As an integral part of our communities, our public schools are a direct line to children and to families. Families in our City will be safer as a result of our swift action.”

Every year, nearly 350 children under the age of 18 unintentionally shoot themselves or others with a firearm. More than 70 percent of such incidents take place within the child’s home. The majority of children who commit suicide also do so with a family member’s gun. Additionally, more than three-quarters of school shooters acquire their firearm from the home of a parent or close relative. In New York this year alone, there have been four incidents involving an unintentional gun discharge, including the death of a 15-year-old boy in Brooklyn earlier this year.

Congressman Goldman has made gun violence a central issue of his first term, fighting nationally and locally to limit firearm availability.

In the first month of his term, Goldman cosponsored Ethan’s Law, which would require gun owners to secure their firearms in a “secure gun storage or safety device” if a minor is likely to gain access to the firearm without permission and incentivizes states to pass and enforce state level safe gun storage laws.

In March of this year, Goldman sent a letter to New York City Mayor Eric Adams asking forinformation on the City’s partnerships with private gun buyback companies after recent media reports revealed that some of these companies actually only remove and destroy the parts that hold serial numbers and selling the weapon’s remaining parts, fueling a secondary market of ghost guns nationwide.

Goldman hosted teachers and students in DC in April at a Congressional Dads Caucus General Member Meeting to share how their experiences with gun violence have impacted their lives.

Earlier this week, Congressman Dan Goldman introduced the ‘PROSPER Act,’ which invests in community-based organizations that focus on gun violence intervention and prevention. The bill is aimed at ensuring these organizations have the support and resources they need to steer young people away from the cycle of violence and towards positive life trajectories.

Congressman Goldman is Vice Chair of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force and Chair of the Congressional Dads Caucus Gun Violence Prevention Working Group.

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