Islanders are focused on preventing gun violence

PTA president shares advocacy message.

By Andy Nystrom • March 15, 2024 5:30 pm
On June 3, 2022, some Mercer Island PTA Committee on Gun Violence Prevention founding members, from left to right, Gwen Loosmore, Mindy Smith, Tanya Aggar, Lori Cohen-Sanford and Bharat Shyam, gathered at a National Gun Violence Awareness Day event at Mercerdale Park. Courtesy photo
On June 3, 2022, some Mercer Island PTA Committee on Gun Violence Prevention founding members, from left to right, Gwen Loosmore, Mindy Smith, Tanya Aggar, Lori Cohen-Sanford and Bharat Shyam, gathered at a National Gun Violence Awareness Day event at Mercerdale Park. Courtesy photo

A group of Mercer Islanders are leading the local charge in preventing gun violence in the state of Washington and beyond.

Island Park Elementary’s PTA forwarded an advocacy message to its membership last month and sent the vital information to the other local schools’ PTA presidents as well, according to Island Park PTA President Kirsten Duell, who connects with community leaders like Gwen Loosmore and Ashley Hay while steadfastly supporting the cause.

Loosmore serves as the legislative advocate for Washington State PTA and leads the Moms Demand Action group for Mercer Island/Bellevue. Hay previously served as the advocacy rep for Lakeridge Elementary School and vice president of advocacy for the Mercer Island Preschool Association.

The Island Park PTA message reads, in part: “Gun violence is now the leading cause of death for American children. These are preventable deaths. Secure storage of firearms reduces the risk of injury, suicide, and accidental death.” Residents can learn more about safe storage (in multiple languages) at: https://tinyurl.com/y8v3h49h or call the Mercer Island Police Department at 206-275-7610 to receive information about free gun locks, turning firearms in for safe keeping or disposing of a firearm.

“I want our community to know that they can surrender these weapons (or others) if they choose to do so, or if they need to protect a family member. I also want our community to know how to keep their weapons safely stored. We understand that if we can get people to store their weapons safely/properly, we can save lives,” said Loosmore, who frequently testifies with Mercer Island City Councilmember Craig Reynolds on gun-violence prevention bills in the state Legislature.

Added Hay, who pairs with Islander Joanna Liao in the BeSMART program realm to share materials regarding public awareness of safe firearm storage: “No community is immune to the devastating effects of gun violence, which is why this work is so important.”

Nancy Lee, a community member of the Moms Demand Action group and author of “Reducing Gun Deaths & Injuries — A Social Marketing Approach,” noted that the following facts have come to light during multiple United States studies and through resources “highlighting the need for safe gun storage”: Among children and youth under 18, more than 80% of firearm suicides involved a gun belonging to a family member; almost half of school shooters stole the gun from a family member; and 63% of gun owners have at least one unlocked gun in their home.

Reynolds said he is a longtime advocate for reducing firearm deaths and introduced and supported a city council plan to implement a voluntary gun buyback program.

“I think the voluntary gun lock program is also a fabulous step that may save lives. I lost one of my best friends to a gunshot wound at the hands of another good friend when I was in high school. A lock might have saved him. A secure gun is a safe gun,” he said.