Columbus giving away free gun locks, boxes
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Columbus is offering free gun locks and storage boxes to residents in an effort to curb gun violence and accidental shootings.
Why it matters: Improper weapon storage is a major safety hazard that is blamed for nearly all shootings with a young child behind the trigger, according to new research from Nationwide Children's Hospital.
What's happening: A total of 5,000 gun locks, which disable weapons when not in use, are available for pick-up at all city fire stations between 8am-8pm on a first-come, first-served basis.
- The city also provides gun lock boxes at Columbus Public Health (1393 E. Broad St.) from 10am-2pm Tuesdays and Thursdays.
- Other area law enforcement agencies offer gun locks or lock boxes as well.
Threat level: Columbus declared gun violence a public health crisis last year as the number of gun seizures continues to rise.
- The study by Nationwide Children's Hospital released last month tracked a decade of unintentional firearm fatalities across the U.S. that involved children under 15 years old who shot themselves or another person.
- In 92% of these cases, the firearms were stored loaded and unlocked.
- Around half the time, children mistook the guns for toys.
State of play: Last December, Columbus City Council enacted a stricter penalty for improperly storing deadly weapons in a place the owner should "reasonably" know a child could access.
- But enforcement is on hold while the city faces legal challenges from the state and the Buckeye Institute think tank.