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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | May 3, 2023 02:59 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Natalie Mihalek |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Firearm Safety Education |
| In light of several recent pieces of legislation that have come before the House, it is time to effect a positive change for Pennsylvania when it comes to firearm safety. I come to you as a concerned mother of three young children, and as someone who has seen first-hand the devastating impact that a lack of education and awareness can have on a family and a community. In junior high, a fellow classmate and friend was visiting the home of another classmate. The two young boys came across a firearm, curiously examined the weapon accidentally discharging it, and permanently paralyzing my classmate. Beyond the physical paralysis, the family and community were forever changed. Seeing my classmate every single day, in a wheelchair, unable to walk, talk, or do any of the normal things that most 13 year old boys take for granted has stuck with me to this day. Because of the experience I shared with my community, when it comes to my own children and the topic of firearms, I have been very proactive in educating them about what to do should they ever find themselves in circumstances similar to what my classmate faced all those years ago. In addition to my own parental advice, I have sought out additional resources on the matter and have found very little readily available. In my search, I did find one such program, tailored according to age, and was reminiscent to the "stop, drop, and roll" instruction I can remember being taught in school. Our schools are charged with the duty to provide education on fire safety, what to do in the event of a natural disaster and even what to do in an active shooter situation. When it comes to firearm safety, our children are left in the dark. The instruction is simple: stop, don't touch, run away, tell a grown up. In the near future, I will be introducing legislation, similar to Kansas, that would enable the Pennsylvania Department of Education to develop age appropriate curriculum for K-8 students on what steps to take if they come across an unsecured firearm. |