June is designated as National Gun Violence Awareness month, a time to reflect on how we can work together to keep our children safe. Tragically, firearm-related injuries are now a leading cause of deaths among children and teens in the United States. This alarming statistic highlights the importance of responsible gun ownership and safe storage practices.
Visit the NC Department of Public Safety’s SECURE ALL FIREARMS EFFECTIVELY (NC SAFE) program page for facts about gun safety and information on safe storage in both English and Spanish. (Español: https://www.ncsafe.org/es/)
We encourage all families with firearms in the home to store and secure them properly. (Safe Storage 101) There are many resources in the community where free gun safety locks are available. You can check with your local police department, sheriff’s office or the public library to see what is available in your area.
These simple tips can save a life:
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- Unload your firearm and store ammunition separately
- Lock it up safely (such as gun safes, lockboxes, cable locks, gun cases, trigger locks)
- Make sure it stays secured by storing keys to locks or safes in a safe location and not sharing codes or combinations
- Never leave an unsecured gun in a vehicle
Governor Josh Stein proclaimed June 1-7 as the North Carolina S.A.F.E. Week of Action. Sponsored by the N.C. Department of Public Safety, this Week of Action seeks to unite communities, families, and organizations statewide in promoting the lifesaving importance of safe firearm storage. See this link for a list of events across our state this week.