Dear Council, I was so happy when you voted to pass the Safe Storage Ordinance a few months ago but a bit taken aback you have not held a second reading. Why? We need it more than ever now. Given the increase in recent gun sales as well as more time being spent in the home, there has now been an increase in deaths in children from firearms (as well as domestic violence) so I am really hoping you can hold the second reading and get this very reasonable ordinance on to the municipal code. Once it is there, people can be educated about it and this will protect innocent lives. Most firearm owners are law abiding and will follow the law if they know this ordinance is in place. This ordinance does not prevent people from easily protecting their homes if they feel they need to have that security and we are only asking for a civil penalty. The ordinance we are asking for is really a tiny step toward a safer place for children as well as adults. PLEASE hold the second hearing. Even before we experienced this most increase in gun sales, we were seeing one small child dying every day in this country from an unsecured firearm, we were losing two teens everyday by suicide from an unsecured firearm, not to mention 85% of school shootings are done by a student or former student gaining access to an unsecured firearm in their home or a relative or friend's home. Unsecured firearms are also prime targets in robberies and, in fact, over the last several months criminals have begun to intentionally target homes in which they believe firearms will exist. I urge you to hold the second reading on the Safe Storage ordinance. This is a very reasonable ordinance and should be an easy ask. Thank you for keeping Menlo Park safe. Best, Kelly Received on Tue Jun 16 2020 - 14:23:01 PDT
