Against a back drop of rising gun violence in the city and across the country, Columbus is continuing a program to give away 5,000 free gun locks and lock boxes. Columbus Mayor Andy Ginther says a sobering statistic lies behind the need to secure guns.
"According to the CDC, guns are the leading cause of death for children and teens in the United States. And they have been ever since 2020. For the last three years in America more children have died as a result of gun violence than traffic accidents."
A recent study from Nationwide Children's Hospital indicated that when children are involved in an accidental death, they usually get the at home, and in 92 percent of the cases reported the weapon was stored loaded and unlocked. Ginther says making gun locks and lock boxes readily available is an appeal to responsible gun owners.
"Every constitutional right comes with its share of responsibilities. This includes keeping guns out of the hands of those who should not have access to them. To stop the flow of firearms into the hands of young people."
The steel cable gun locks are available to any Columbus resident at any city fire station between 8am and 8pm. Lock boxes are available through Columbus Public Health on Tuesday and Thursday. To find out how to get a free lock box, email lockssavelives@columbus.gov
