The Rock Island County Health Department is distributing free gun locks to any area resident who would like one.
The free gun locks can be picked up at the health department, 2112 25th Ave., Rock Island, between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. Rock Island County Sheriff’s Department deputies also will have locks available in their patrol cars.
The gun locks are being made available under the “Together for a Safer Illinois” program. This program is meant to make gun locks readily available as a means of preventing tragedies, such as accidental shootings, gun violence, gun thefts, and suicide. The locks are provided through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for distribution through the Illinois Department of Public Health.
The locks include installation instructions for autoloading pistols, revolvers, auto loading and pump-action shotguns, bolt action rifles, modern sports rifles, and single-action revolvers. The locks also come with information about the national 988 suicide and crisis lifeline.
No information will be collected from those who obtain a lock at the health department.
“The CDC reports an estimated 4.6 million children live in homes with unlocked, loaded guns,” Janet Hill, interim administrator of the Rock Island County Health Department, said in a news release. “Children are curious and don’t understand risk. Having an unsecured gun increases the chances of tragedy. Having an unsecured gun also increases the risk of suicide. More than 26,000 people killed themselves with firearms in 2021.”
Other firearm statistics from the CDC:
- How common are firearm injuries? Firearm injuries are a serious public health problem. In 2020, there were 45,222 firearm-related deaths in the United States – that’s about 124 people dying from a firearm-related injury each day. More than half of firearm-related deaths were suicides and more than 4 out of every 10 were firearm homicides.
- More people suffer nonfatal firearm-related injuries than die. More than seven out of every 10 medically treated firearm injuries are from firearm-related assaults. Nearly two out of every 10 are from unintentional firearm injuries. Most people who use a firearm in a suicide attempt die from their injury.
- Firearm injuries affect people in all stages of life. In 2020, firearm-related injuries were among the five leading causes of death for people ages 1-44 in the United States.
- Some groups have higher rates of firearm injury than others. Men account for 86% of all victims of firearm death and 87% of nonfatal firearm injuries. Rates of firearm violence also vary by age and race/ethnicity. Firearm homicide rates are highest among teens and young adults 15-34 years of age and among Black or African American, American Indian or Alaska Native, and Hispanic or Latino populations. Firearm suicide rates are highest among adults 75 years of age and older and among American Indian or Alaska Native and non-Hispanic white populations.
