In Los Angeles County, a child is killed or injured by gun violence every 30 hours. A number of these incidents involve guns that were left loaded and unlocked. Across the country, an estimated 4.6 million children live in households with loaded and unlocked firearms. Those chilling statistics from the Los Angeles County Public Health Department in a news release.
In hopes of putting a dent in the growing gun violence problem, 60,000 gun safety locks are being given out to the public, free of charge. The Los Angeles County Office of Violence Prevention is behind the distribution. Established by the Los Angeles Board of Supervisors in 2019, the OVP is part of the Los Angeles County Public Health system.
Two ways to get free gun safety locks
The free gun locks are available by mail or can be picked up at Olive View-UCLA Medical Center
14445 Olive View Drive in Sylmar and five other county medical facilities. They are Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, High Desert Regional Health Center, Los Angeles General Medical Center, Martin Luther King Jr. Outpatient Center, and Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center.
Unlocked guns are more than a risk to others. All too often, they are the weapon of choice for someone who wants to end their own life. In 2022, the County experienced more than 300 suicides involving firearms.
“Far too many families have experienced the terrible pain of losing a child or teenager to gun violence,” said Dr. Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, Director of Public Health. “In many of these cases, the simple act of locking and safely storing firearms would have prevented a tragedy. Fostering a culture of safety within the community begins with simple steps like securing firearms and protecting our children.”
Later this year, plans are to expand the gun safety lock program to Los Angeles County libraries. For details on how to get a free gun safety lock, visit lockedandunloaded.org.
