When Michael Sonntag started working with families at St. Margaret of Scotland on gun safety education, he wasn't looking for recognition; he was looking for a way to keep kids safe. This month, that work earned him a national honor. Sonntag, who serves on the Archdiocese of St. Louis Gun Violence Prevention Task Force and as Communications Coordinator for St. Margaret of Scotland, has been named a 2026 Be SMART Visionary.

St. Louis Be SMART announced the selection during their third annual SMART Week (August 24–28, 2026), a national campaign focused on protecting children by educating families on secure firearm storage.  

Why Sonntag Was Selected

The Be SMART Visionary designation goes to community members and educators who go above and beyond to promote secure gun storage and responsible gun ownership. Sonntag was recognized for his consistent, year-round advocacy in schools and across the community.

Much of that work has taken shape at St. Margaret of Scotland, where the school's Gun Sense: For the Common Good committee has helped parents:

• Adopt and share the Be SMART message
• Sign Be SMART parent pledges
• Identify St. Margaret of Scotland as an official Be SMART School

The school also rolled out a new Be SAFE curriculum, teaching children exactly what to do if they ever find or are shown an unsecured weapon, along with other practical age-appropriate guidance that can make the difference in an emergency.

Expanding Across the Archdiocese

St. Margaret of Scotland has served as the pilot site for this programming, and the results have opened the door to something bigger. In 2027, the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force will encourage Be SMART in schools across the entire Archdiocese, offering it to all 139 parishes in the City of St. Louis and 10 surrounding counties in Missouri.

As Sonntag put it:

"Becoming a Be SMART School means that St. Margaret of Scotland is committed to helping parents, caregivers, and families keep kids safe when it comes to firearms."

About Be SMART

Be SMART is a program of Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund, launched in 2015 to help parents and caregivers normalize conversations about gun safety. The program's core message is built around five simple actions:

• Secure all guns in homes and vehicles
• Model responsible behavior around guns
• Ask about unsecured guns in homes where your kids spend time
• Recognize the role of guns in suicide
• Tell your peers to be SMART

Learn More

For more on secure firearm storage and how to protect children from unsecured guns at home, visit BeSMARTforkids.org.

Congratulations to Michael Sonntag on this well-earned recognition. Thank you to the entire St. Margaret of Scotland community for leading the way on keeping our students safe.