Children urged to remind parents about gun safety

Story by Donald H. Harrison; Photos by Shor M. Masori

SAN DIEGO — Two San Diego City Councilwomen kicked off their shoes at the Copley-Price Family YMCA on Wednesday, June 29, and on the shaded playground turf led a pep rally in which they instructed a multi-ethnic group of young day campers to refrain from touching guns and to remind their parents to inquire if guns are safely locked up at the homes at which children will be visiting.

Councilmembers Marti Emerald and Myrtle Cole conducted a Q&A session with the youngsters — in which the councilmembers asked the questions and the children shouted their responses — while members of the Brady Campaign Against Gun Violence, wearing shirts with the legend “I Pledge to Ask” looked on approvingly.

The month of July has been declared ASK Month in San Diego, ASK being an acronym for “Asking Saves Lives.” Emerald said that nine children are shot every day in the United States, and that number could be reduced if parents safely locked up their weapons.

Will you children ask your parents to make sure guns are locked up wherever you go? Emerald asked.

“Yes,” the children responded in unison.

One child raised a hand and asked how children get shot.

“Sometimes guns are left around; you pick it up up, and there’s a trigger, and someone gets hurt,” replied Emerald, who is a member of San Diego’s Jewish community.

Councilwoman Cole, who is African-American, disclosed that she used to be a police officer, and used to carry a gun, because she was trained to do so.

How many campers want to be police officers? she asked.

About 20 hands went up, and Cole quipped, “Great! They’re hiring.”

Locking up guns “protects you, your mother, your father, your aunt, your uncles — ” Cole said.

“Your whole family,” a camper added.

“The whole globe!” offered another.

Then Cole began a call and response session.

“If you go to someone’s house, what should you do?”

“Ask!” chorused the children.

“Yes, you want them locked up and out of sight” Cole said.

A camper added: “Make sure you put it up in a high place.”

Cole responded that was what adults should do. Children, she said, should never touch guns.

“If you see a gun, what should you do?” Cole asked.

“Run away,” shouted the campers.

Following the group tutorial, Emerald and Cole presented to Julian Villegas, the executive director of the Copley-Price Family YMCA, a framed city council resolution commemorating July as ASK month.

“That’s our main priority: to keep our kids safe,” responded Villegas, who came to this country from Columbia.

Carol Landale, a Brady Campaign member, pointed out that guns should be locked away not only in July but throughout the year.

“If you see a gun, what do you do?” the children were once again asked.

“Don’t touch it and run away!” they responded with enthusiasm.

A coloring book page about hidden dangers at people’s homes were distributed to the campers as they left the rally.

*
Harrison is editor and Masori is a staff photographer of San Diego Jewish World. Their emails are donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com and shor.masori@sdjewishworld.com. Comments intended for publication in the space below MUST be accompanied by the letter writer’s first and last name and by his/ her city and state of residence (city and country for those outside the United States.)