Partnership with Columbus Fire Results in Free Gun Locks for Columbus Residents

Beginning with the week starting on July 5, 2021, fire stations across the City began distributing gun locks, free-of-charge, to Columbus residents.

“We are all aware that the number of gun-related incidents among young people has increased,” said Councilmember Mitchell J. Brown. “In the last year, there were several incidences of children being injured by another child due to the improper handling of a firearm.”

Three children were killed, and three other children were criminally charged for their deaths. While each incident was ruled accidental, the lifelong trauma each family must endure could have been avoided. As recently as last week, an 11-year-old boy was seriously injured by a 14-year-old family member who was looking at a parent’s gun.

The first six months of 2021, have resulted in 99 of our residents losing their lives, 92.1% of those deaths being a result of gun violence. Alarmingly 31.7% of the victims and 37.5% of the suspects have been under the age of 22. While we believe a number of the guns involved in these shootings have been ill-gotten, we would like to think that if the weapons were stored properly or disabled by using a gun lock, there would be fewer weapons available to commit gun-related offenses.

Gun locks provide another level of safety by securing guns when not in use. The gun locks being purchased are made from a braided steel cable with a keyed padlock. 

“This is a proactive step to changing the narrative of young people continuing to injure and killing other young people with firearms,” said Brown. “We are in a race to stop this tragedy from recurring again.” 

“Love our children; lock your gun.” 

These gun locks are available to any Columbus resident, no questions asked, at all Columbus fire stations between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.

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