The Henry and Stark County Health Departments and First Choice Healthcare have Free Gun Locks available at the offices and clinics in Kewanee and Colona. The initiative is aimed at reducing the stigma of addressing gun safety by public health and medical professionals who are treating gun violence as a public health crisis.
Health Department officials report that 64 Americans die by firearm suicide, which is one every 22 minutes. Households that locked both 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. “It’s a small device that can save a life.”
“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.
Gun locks are also available through the Veterans Crisis Line, which 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.
The Health Department will also be working with other area health care professionals, law enforcement officials, mental health providers and social service agencies to urge and help gun owners to store their weapons properly.
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 at 110 N. Burr Blvd and Colona at 103 1st St., Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 4 PM.
For more information on Free Gun Safety Locks program , visit our website at www.henrystarkhealth.com or find us on Facebook at Henry and Stark County Health Departments or Follow Us on Twitter and Instagram.
