Dear Parents and Guardians,
The safety and well-being of our students remain a top priority for Isle of Wight County Schools. In support of student safety, we are sharing this important reminder about the safe storage of firearms and prescription medications in the home.
Safe storage helps protect children and teens from accidental injury, misuse, overdose, and self-harm. The Virginia Department of Health advises that firearms should be stored unloaded and locked, with ammunition locked and stored separately. The Department of Health also advises families to keep prescription medications up and away and out of sight, and to properly dispose of leftover or expired medications through authorized collection programs.
Under Virginia law, § 18.2-56.2, it is unlawful to recklessly leave a loaded, unsecured firearm in a manner that endangers the life or limb of a child under age 14. A violation is a Class 1 misdemeanor. Virginia law also makes it unlawful for a person under age 18 to knowingly and intentionally possess or transport a handgun or assault firearm, with limited exceptions.
Safe storage matters because unsecured firearms and medications can have tragic consequences. Firearms in the home increase the risk of accidental shootings, theft, and youth suicide when they are not securely stored. Virginia behavioral health and suicide-prevention resources specifically promote the message: Lock meds. Lock guns. Talk safety. Virginia’s 988 crisis system is available 24/7 for immediate mental health support.
Families are encouraged to:
- Store all firearms unloaded in a locked safe, lock box, or with a trigger/chamber lock.
- Store ammunition locked and separately from firearms.
- Keep prescription and over-the-counter medications in a secure location, out of reach and out of sight of children and teens.
- Regularly monitor medication quantities and dispose of unused or expired medications through an authorized collector or take-back program.
- Talk with children and teens about firearm safety, medication safety, and the importance of telling a trusted adult if they see an unsecured firearm or medications.
Resources for Parents and Families
- Virginia Department of Health – Firearm Injury Prevention
- Virginia Department of Health – Medication Safety / “Up and Away and Out of Sight”
- Virginia Department of Health – Leftover Medicine Disposal Guidance
- Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services – Suicide Prevention
- Virginia 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger or needs urgent help, call 911. For mental health or suicide crisis support, call or text 988.
Thank you for partnering with us to help keep our students safe at school and at home.
Sincerely,
Dr. Christopher N. Coleman, Superintendent
Isle of Wight County Schools