To the editor:

Own it? Respect it. Secure it.

Putting these words into action is a simple and powerful way to help prevent firearm accidents and unauthorized access to firearms. That’s why we are proud to be part of the “Own It? Respect It. Secure It” (ORS) InitiativeSM and committed to spreading this message every way we can to the Wayland area community.

As part of this initiative, we invite all area community members to the Gun Safety Forum at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb, 22, at the Wayland Millwright and Carpentry Training Center, 500 Reno Drive.

Hear presentations from our expert panel, including the City of Wayland Police Chief Scott Matice, WUS safety officer Jon Schaefer, Allegan County Prosecutor Myrene Koch and assistant Prosecutor Elizabeth Peterson, local gun safety instructor and Wayland Township supervisor Roger VanVolkinburg, and firearms instructor/ safety advocate Daryle Rostic from Smart Shooters, LLC

Without question, safety should always be top of mind when handling firearms. Safety when firearms are not in use is just as important. In fact, we want the safe storage of firearms when not in use to become second nature, like keeping medicine in child-resistant containers.

The more we repeat this message the more firearms owners will be reminded to take important yet simple steps to securely store their firearms when not in use.

We encourage you to share this message with your friends and family. For more information on the Gun Safety Forum and the Wayland Community for Gun Safety group, visit us on Facebook at “Wayland Community for Gun Safety”.

For more information on the ORS Initiative, please visit www.nssf.org/ORS.