TOLEDO, Ohio — It's a number that's hard to hear. Nearly 1,300 children under the age of 18 are killed in shootings each year, according to Nationwide Children's Hospital.
The same data shows that when it's unintentional, a friend or relative is most likely to pull the trigger. To fight the tide of gun violence, several local community advocates working to change those numbers.
It all starts with a mission.
Sister Virginia Welsh, executive director of the Padua Center in Central Toledo, emphasizes a summer focus on health in mind, body and spirit.
For Sister Virginia, this includes protecting kids from gun violence. The Padua Center, rooted in the Christian community, aims to empower people at all stages of life through counseling, community involvement, and education.
"We talk to the children about safety, about gun safety, what to do if you see a gun, and how to behave around that kind of violence," Sister Virginia said.
To reinforce their efforts, the Padua Center called in some reinforcements.
Fred LeFebvre and the Toledo Buffalo Soldiers Motorcycle Club have been teaching gun safety and anti-bullying classes to kids in the community.
"We've been here before and we've taught the gun safety class and the anti-bullying class to these kids," LeFebvre said.
Their message remains unchanged: If a child finds a gun, they need to be educated to leave it alone and tell an adult.
"A lot of kids don't realize how fast a bullet travels, the damage damage it can do to the human body. They think they can outrun a bullet ," LeFebvre said.
Sister Virginia underscored the reality faced by many children. "Many of these children have seen guns, and do have guns in their home. Where they live, they hear gunshots at night," she said.
Nationwide Children's Hospital estimates that 1 in 3 families with children have at least one gun in the house, totaling more than 22 million children living in homes with guns. Knowing what to do in such situations could save lives.
"They remember it, I hope it stays with them when they see a gun on the street," Sister Virginia said.
But is that message being heard? Eight-year-old Ezekiel Nelson confirmed the importance of their teachings:
"If you come across a gun, you just gotta don't touch it, but you still gotta stop. An now run away and tell somebody."
For children like Ezekiel, hearing gunshots in their neighborhood is a reality. The Buffalo Soldiers work to ensure that the children they educate know practical safety measures like dropping to the ground and making themselves as small as possible if they hear shots ring out.