Greenwood Helps Pass Measure for Safe Firearm Storage Education, Promotes Comprehensive Curriculums

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – State Rep. LaToya Greenwood, D-East St. Louis, helped pass a measure to allow school districts to develop a curriculum to teach students about safe gun storage practices.

“We need to look at all of our children’s needs when we talk about education and what they need to learn,” Greenwood said. “I’m a proponent of a broad spectrum of learning. That includes preparation for post-high school options, such as technical school, career training, community colleges and more traditional 4-year schools. For kids who are around guns a lot, knowing how to securely store them is essential, and it should be a part of their curriculum as well.”

Greenwood helped pass House Bill 5193, which gives school districts the option to develop curriculums on how to safely handle firearms. It also requires this information be included in schools’ student handbooks. HB 5193 passed the House with strong bipartisan support.

“Gun safety is essential for our community, and one of the keys to that is ensuring guns are stored properly,” Greenwood said. “Our children need a comprehensive curriculum on how to safely handle guns if they are regularly around them. Neglecting this education just invites tragedy.”