NC high schoolers’ access to loaded weapons

NEW BERN, N.C. (WITN) – After a string of shootings in the past few weeks in New Bern, it’s drawing attention to the access young people have to guns.

NC S.A.F.E., with the North Carolina Department of Public Safety (NCDPS), shared data on social media from a report that found nearly 30% of high schoolers within the state say they could access a loaded weapon within an hour without permission, leaving one parent in New Bern worried.

“That makes me want to homeschool my child whenever she’s even able to go to school. I mean, hearing about all of the shootings and everything is really concerning,” says New Bern resident Alexis Branham.

Even for the New Bern Police Department, hearing the data came as a shock.

“It’s definitely a percentage too high in my opinion,” says SGT. Joseph Leggett.

It’s adding another layer of concern surrounding young people and their access to guns, a topic taking center stage after five shootings in the past three weeks in New Bern.

Police say they are mostly involved people between the ages of 15 to 25.

“We have seen juveniles and teenagers in possession of firearms. Most of the time, they’re getting them because they’re not secured or locked,” says SGT. Leggett.

New Bern Police say that gun owners, especially those who are parents, should safely store their guns by using safes or gun locks.

LazyK Cartridge Company gun store manager Kenneth Lipscomb says they try to help people who are turned away by the cost of gun storage by giving away gun locks to promote gun safety.

“Making sure that they [gun owners] understand that these are yours, not theirs. Once again, if they’re yours, have them locked up in a place that they can not access. When you have it out freely and about and anyone can access it, you’re not showing that it’s yours,” says Lipscomb.

More than 60,000 gun locks were given away in 2024 by the NCDPS to promote gun safety.

New Bern Police say they will be holding a press conference Friday to discuss the issues. WITN will be present and will bring you the latest.

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