 Hi, I'm Dr. Aditi Bussells, City Councilwoman at Large. Did you know guns are the leading cause of death among children and teens in South Carolina? In fact, in our state, an average of 92 children and teens die by guns every year, of which almost 60 percent are homicides. Gun owners can make their homes and communities safer by storing their guns securely. This means storing them locked, unloaded, and separate from ammunition. Securing firearms protects children and adults by preventing unintentional shootings and gun suicides. There are various facets to gun violence, and as a city, we know we can't solve it alone, but we can do our part. Today, I'm pleased to introduce the City of Columbia's Lock It Up campaign. This project is focused on promoting safety in our communities by increasing safe firearm storage. Over the next several months, the City in partnership with the Columbia Police Department, Parks and Rec, and community leaders will be raising awareness about why it's important to store firearms safely, safe storage device options, how to practice safe storage at home, and most importantly, how to encourage others to store firearms safely. Simply put, locking up our guns saves lives and makes our communities safer. So join us, Lock It Up, Columbia.