As young people head back to school, one of the smartest things all adults can do to keep kids, classrooms, and communities safe from gun violence is raise awareness about secure gun storage. August 26–30, 2024 marks the first annual SMART Week—a time when we come together to spread the word on the critical importance of secure gun storage to prevent gun violence. Through local activations, partnerships, and social media amplification, we can work together to make sure this school year is the safest one yet!

SMART Week is built on the foundation of the BE SMART public education program. Be SMART promotes secure gun storage as a means to prevent kids under 18 and other unauthorized users from accessing guns. SMART Week will leverage the Be SMART framework to educate communities across the US about the simple steps that everyone—gun owners and non-gun owners alike—can take right now to prevent gun violence:

Secure all guns in homes and vehicles
Model responsible behavior around guns
Ask about the presence of unsecured firearms in other homes your child visits
Recognize the role of guns in suicide
Tell your peers to Be Smart!

The bottom line: As summer comes to a close and kids head back to school, adults have homework too—to spread the word about secure gun storage and how to Be Smart !

Securing firearms is one of the best ways to keep our schools and communities safe from gun violence. To make this the safest school year yet, the first annual SMART Week will be from August 26-30, 2024!

Help spread the word about this critical new safety campaign, and learn more about how you can get involved at besmartforkids.org/smart-week. #BeSMART