Gun safety guide: How to use a gun lock

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ST. LOUIS — Firearm injuries are a serious public health problem in the U.S.

In 2020, country saw over 45,000 gun-related deaths, or about 124 deaths each day, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

More than 26,000 of those deaths were due to suicide and about 550 were preventable, happening while cleaning or playing with a gun or another accidental incident, the CDC reports.

Researchers, health care professionals and gun owners have proven the safe and secure storage of firearms can reduce firearm-related injuries and deaths, according to Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Safe storage practices can also prevent those who can't legally have guns, potential thieves, children and those at an elevated risk for suicide or violence against others from getting their hands on guns.

Guns should always be stored away when not in use. The CDC warns that simply putting a firearm out of sight or out of reach isn't enough to prevent its use by children or unauthorized adults.

According to Project ChildSafe, a program of the National Shooting Sports Foundation, there are several different ways to safely secure firearms. Here are just some of the options:

No matter the firearm storage option, it's important to keep firearms locked, unloaded and separated from ammunition when not in use.

Click here to take Project ChildSafe's firearm storage and safety assessment to see how your gun storage habits could be improved.

Gun owners can pick up a free gun lock at St. Louis City Fire Department engine houses, St. Louis Public Library locations and select St. Louis County Library locations. The locks are available in partnership with the Women's Voices Raised for Social Justice's Lock It For Love project.

Many local law enforcement offices offer free gun locks to residents.

BJC HealthCare is working to lower the number of preventable gun-related injuries by making free no-questions-asked gun locks available at all BJC hospital emergency rooms, St. Louis Children's Hospital Specialty Care Centers in west and south St. Louis County, the St. Louis Children's Hospital Center for Families Resource Library and the St. Louis Children's Safety Stop.

Missouri and Illinois parents can request a free gun lock online from St. Louis Children's Hospital.

SSM Health has free gun locks available at local SSM Health hospital emergency rooms, Cardinal Glennon Pediatrics clinics and the Behavior Health Urgent Care at SSM Health DePaul Hospital - St. Louis.

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