In the past week, your child was involved in a conversation about carrying weapons at school.
Here are some recommendations on how to speak with your child about the consequences of using weapons.
1. Explain to your child that you have been alerted that they were involved in a conversation about carrying weapons to school.
2. Ask them to share more about the conversation, the context, and who they were speaking with about it. Were they speaking to someone they know or a stranger online?
3. Explain the risks of using weapons and explain that they can be fatal.
4. If your child does know the gamer they were speaking with and they claimed that they are planning to take the weapon to school, we recommend alerting the law enforcement in their hometown or the gaming platform.
5. If you are speaking with a preteen (9-12), explain to them that federal law prohibits guns in schools. According to the law “kids that are possessing a firearm at an elementary or secondary school or on school property be expelled for not less than one-year”. Guns make students and the staff less safe.
6. Discuss unintentional shootings with your child. Explain that they happen when children are using guns from their homes. The likelihood of accidental death by shooting is four times higher.
7. Remind your kids that if they ever come across a gun, they must stay away from it and tell you immediately.
Use this opportunity to educate your child about gun safety. You can use this article for more information