Proposed bill aims to educate gun owners on locking up their firearms

AUSTIN, Texas (FOX 7 Austin) - A committee approved House Bill 316 earlier this month and is now awaiting a vote by the full house.  

The bill aims to spread statewide awareness - about gun storage: which a new study - conducted by the University of Texas found will help prevent deaths among children.    

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the US, firearm related deaths were 49 times higher for those aged 15-to-24 years old. 

We are coming up on the one year anniversary of the Santa Fe mass shooting. 
For many people the attack took place too close to home.

"But Santa Fe shined a light on the problem that we've had that's been going on for years," said Ed Scruggs, with Texas Gun Sense. 

Since the shooting, lawmakers have been working together to make sure something like this doesn't happen again. 

"Children are getting a hold of weapons in the home usually when they are not supervised," said Scruggs.

They've proposed House Bill 316.  

If passed the bill would educate gun owners on how to properly store a gun and suicide prevention.  

Which is something Ed Scruggs with Texas Gun Sense says will help keep guns from landing in the wrong hands. 

"Educate the public on self-storage and suicide prevention.  Statistics show that so many people do not know how to store their firearms safely they're leaving them out putting them in the bed, loaded in the nightstand even when they have young children,"  said Scruggs. 

A recent study released by the University Texas says gun storage and education can prevent deaths among children in Texas.