Law enforcement will give out hundreds of free gun locks this weekend to Marion County residents, in an effort to curb injuries and deaths from accidental shootings.
This year, Indianapolis has seen an increase in accidental shootings among adults and children including three deaths and 77 non-fatal shootings. A quarter of the non-fatal accidental shootings involved children.
Officials say these injuries and deaths are preventable.
“Far too often, we are seeing children and teens get their hands on firearms and the consequences are deadly,” said Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Chief Randal Taylor in a news release. “I ask all gun owners to safely store their guns and keep them out of the hands of children. Their lives are at stake.”
Studies suggest that a gun lock is an inexpensive but effective way to prevent a child from using a gun.
The Marion County Sheriff’s Office purchased 600 cable-style gun locks that will be given out for free. Project ChildSafe, a national program funded by the U.S. Department of Justice, also provided locks. The kits contain safety information in addition to the gun lock.
People can get the free gun locks on Sunday from noon to 2 p.m. at New Liberty Missionary Baptist Church on the city’s far east side. Organizers say the event will have a “no questions asked” policy.
“Our faith community, along with law enforcement, community partners, and residents — have a responsibility to prevent senseless gun deaths and injuries that are impacting some of our youngest residents.,” said Pastor Darrell Brooks from New Liberty Missionary Baptist Church in a news release. “I’ve lost several of my middle school students that I mentor to accidental gun violence.”
Gun locks will also be available at Indianapolis Public Library locations while supplies last. More gun locks are expected to be distributed at IMPD roll call sites in the future.
Contact WFYI criminal justice reporter Katrina Pross at kpross@wfyi.org. Follow on Twitter: @katrina_pross.
Pross is a Corps Member of Report for America, an initiative of The GroundTruth Project.
