The Henry and Stark County Health Departments and First Choice Healthcare Clinics have gun locks available to residents at the offices and clinics in Kewanee, Colona, and Toulon. The initiative by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) aims to reduce the stigma of gun safety. More than 100,000 free gun locks have been provided to residents statewide since the initiative began less than a year ago.
Every day, 64 Americans die by firearm suicide, or one every 22 minutes. Households that lock firearms and ammunition were associated with a 78 percent lower risk of self-inflicted firearm injuries and an 85 percent lower risk of unintentional firearm injuries among children and teens, compared to those that locked neither.
“These simple steps can be life saving for the adolescent or adult who reaches for a firearm in an impulsive gesture during a moment of crisis. Or for a school-age child who thinks the firearm is a toy,” said RaeAnn Tucker, Director of Health Promotion with the Henry and Stark County Health Department.
These gun locks are available through the Veterans Crisis Line. This is a 24/7 Confidential Crisis Support Network. Simply: Dial 988 the Press 1; or Chat at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat; or Text 838255.
Tucker adds, “The purpose of this program is to limit young people having easy access to guns. In addition, this initiative is being used to prevent readily accessible guns being in the hands of the wrong people or individuals in mental crisis. Therefore, we encourage family members of and those with mental health concerns to take advantage of these free gun locks.
Residents can pick up free gun safety locks by stopping by the Henry and Stark County Health Department Offices and First Choice Healthcare clinic locations in Kewanee, 110 N. Burr Blvd; Colona, 103 1st St.; and Toulon, 120 E. Court St. Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 4 PM.
For more information on the Free Gun Safety Locks program, visit our website at www.henrystarkhealth.com or follow them on social media.
