TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) – Volunteers from the Moms Demand Action organization went to Hummer Sports Park to raise gun safety awareness. They had planned to distribute food from Harvesters’ Mobile Distribution Food Pantry, but a miscommunication by the company resulted in a no-show.
Moms Demand Action volunteers approached cars lined up to receive food, handing out gun locks and free flyers promoting the Be SMART campaign.
The Be SMART campaign is launched by Everytown for Gun Safety, promoting responsible gun ownership to reduce violent crime and reduce accidental firearm deaths of children. The campaign calls for securing all guns in homes and vehicles, modeling responsible behavior, asking about unsecured guns in other homes, recognizing the role of guns in suicide, and telling peers to be smart.
“I feel there is a need to get the word out in our community that wherever there is a proliferation of firearms, there can be senseless and preventable gun violence deaths,” said Shannon Little, Topeka group leader for Moms Demand Action . “If there is anything I can do or we can do as an organization to help prevent gun violence and prevent a child from getting hold of a gun and having a tragic end, I would like to be able to help do that.
13 NEWS has contacted Harvesters regarding the situation. Collectors said they apologized for the miscommunication and offered these alternate sites for Saturday 28th January.
- First Free Methodist Church at 3450 SE Indiana Ave. 9:00am to 10:00am
- Antioch Missionary Baptist Church at 1100 SE Washington St. from 11:00 am to noon.
For more information on the ‘Be SMART’ campaign, send a SMART message to 64433 or visit their Facebook e Chirping pages.
For a free gun block, please email [email protected].
