August 1, 2022
Dear Parent/Guardian:
We are all aware of incidents of gun violence in our surrounding communities, and across the nation. Providing our students and staff with a safe educational environment remains one of our top priorities. We need your partnership to stay vigilant when it comes to children/students gaining access to firearms. As a reminder, the State of Maryland requires that all handguns in the home must be equipped with an external safety lock or mechanical disabling device that prevents accidental discharge. Additionally, Maryland State Law, Article 19, Subtitle 59, Part 2, Sections 11-13 clearly outlines the laws for responsible gun ownership and supervision of minors around weapons, as access to weapons by a minor is strictly prohibited.
In Maryland each year, “guns are the leading cause of death among children and teens. An average of 58 children and teens die by guns every year, and 82% of these deaths are homicides.” (EveryStat.org 1/21)
While not yet law, Maryland is looking to pass Bill SB0676 Firearm Safety – Storage Requirements and Youth Suicide Prevention (Jaelynn’s Law). Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) actively encourages parents and guardians to take the necessary steps to ensure that weapons in the home are safely stored and that our students do not have access to them.
Here are some links on safe gun storage for you to access:
https://mdpgv.org/safestoragemap/
Prince George’s County Public Schools is taking steps to ensure that campuses are safe from the threat of gun violence. Please refer to the following links on State and County gun laws, as well as PGCPS policy.
The Maryland Firearms Statutes and Codes Section 4-102 Deadly Weapons on School Property, Section (b)
https://www.atf.gov/firearms/docs/guide/maryland-firearms-statutes-and-codes/download
Prince George’s County, Maryland - Code of Ordinances – Division 6. – Weapons, Sec. 14-140. – Loaded weapons prohibited
https://library.municode.com/md/prince_george's_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIITI17PULOLAPRGECOMA_SUBTITLE_14MOCO_DIV6WE_S14-140LOWEPREX
PGCPS Student Rights & Responsibilities Handbook – Possession or Use of Weapons or Instruments Used as Such
https://www.pgcps.org/globalassets/offices/pupil-personnel/docs---pupil-personnel/student-rights-and-responsibilities-handbook.pdf
Thank you for your support and partnership as we continue to strive to make Prince George’s County Public Schools a safe, world-class educational environment for our students, faculty and staff.
Sincerely,
Monica E. Goldson, Ed.D.
Chief Executive Officer\
