‘Safe Stories’ Highlights Gun Safety With A Book That Doubles Up As A Lock Box
By Alexa Heah, 17 Jul 2023
The Ad Council, in partnership with Brady and Dentsu, has launched the Safe Stories campaign and digital experience as part of its End Family Fire program. This initiative aims to share real stories of individuals who have contemplated suicide by firearm, emphasizing the critical importance of safe storage to prevent tragic incidents.
Research indicates that a staggering 65% of gun owners in America possess at least one unlocked firearm, which poses significant risks, particularly to children. End Family Fire hopes this public service announcement will engage gun owners in meaningful conversations about reducing preventable firearm deaths and advocating for safe storage practices.
A study conducted by the Ad Council reveals that awareness of End Family Fire’s gun suicide prevention PSAs is linked to increased support for locked and unloaded storage. The term “family fire” has been coined by the campaign to describe shootings that result from unauthorized access to firearms within homes.
The Safe Stories campaign launched amid alarming record-high gun suicide rates, which account for over half of all firearm-related deaths in the United States. Access to firearms triples the risk of death by suicide, and gun suicide attempts have a devastatingly high fatality rate of 90%.
To drive home the message of safe gun storage, the campaign utilizes a combination of documentary-style videos and animation. These stories are presented within a virtual “book safe” that not only provides information on safe storage methods but also offers crisis resources for individuals in need.
[via Muse by Clio and MediaVillage.org, cover image via Ad Council]
This article was crafted with assistance from an AI engine, and has been reviewed, edited, and fact-checked.