Lake County Gazette

Lake County residents are set to receive free gun locks for secure firearm storage, courtesy of the Gun Violence Prevention Initiative. This initiative is a collaboration with the Veteran's Administration and the Illinois Department of Health.

According to a Lake County press release, the Gun Violence Prevention Initiative (GVPI) intends to collaborate with various entities such as doctor's offices, faith institutions, fire departments, gun shops, and mental health providers. These organizations will serve as distribution sites, thereby ensuring that Lake County residents have easy access to the safety devices.

The press release further outlines that the project aims to enhance accessibility for Lake County residents to gun locks and information about safe firearm storage. This is in an effort to reduce unintentional firearm injuries and firearm suicide, particularly among children. The information will be available in both English and Spanish.

Organizations that wish to serve as gun lock distribution sites are advised to fill out a form provided on a specific web page, as per another Lake County press release.

The GVPI website states that it partners with law enforcement and the community at large to address the root causes of violence. The initiative was launched in 2021 with backing from the mayors of Waukegan, Zion, and North Chicago.