Highlights
Every parent who was affected by the shooting at Oxford High School has a different way of dealing with moving forward.
Every parent who was affected by the shooting at Oxford High School has a different way of dealing with moving forward.
Jenny Prather, whose son Jack is a freshman, is now focused on gun security. She was one of several parents who spoke at the Oxford Board of Education meeting on Tuesday night.
“My heart was broken and this is what I thought I could do to help,’’ Prather said, breaking down a little at that point. “I don’t want anyone to have to live through what we’ve had to live through. I’d be happy to discuss this with any of the board members or anyone who would listen, I just want to keep people safe.’’
She made a point to learn about how people properly store weapons.
“I had no idea. It was not on my radar before this. Now, of course, it is,’’ Prather said.
She discovered a national organization — BeSmartForKids.org.
“What they do is they teach people how to advocate for others so they can absolutely keep their weapons, but store them in a way where the ammunition is not kept with the gun and the gun is properly locked in the home away from where a child or a loved one who isn’t feeling mentally strong might be able to get the weapon,’’ Prather explained to the board.
She asked board members to consider sending out messaging to train parents and caregivers on the proper way to store weapons.
Ethan Crumbley, the 15-year-old alleged shooter, had access to a gun given to him by his parents just days before the shooting that killed four students and wounded seven others including a teacher.
“Approximately 4.6 million children are living in a home with an unsecured weapon. That’s why we keep hearing the sad stories about children finding guns and accidentally killing siblings or what not,’’ Prather said.
Oxford Board of Education president Tom Donnelly thanked Prather.
“We want to thank you for turning your anger into a solution and looking at ways in which we can get to this issue,’’ Donnelly said.
Michigan currently has no laws about storing firearms, although there has been discussion about legislation to require it in homes with minor children.
Prather, a stay-at-home mom, is putting all her volunteer efforts toward gun security.
She will speak at the Oxford Village Council meeting in February. And is planning on taking media training to become a formal spokesperson.
“As a parent I was sad, then I decided in order to move past my sadness I started to get angry,’’ Prather said. “I started to think of ways I could be helpful to my son and helpful to my community.’’
For more information see BeSmartForKids.org.
