Contact: David Weaver (240) 777-6530
Bill O'Toole (240) 773-5030
For Immediate Release: August 8, 2000
COUNTY TO DISTRIBUTE FREE GUN SAFETY
LOCKS AT COUNTY FAIR; LAUNCH
PUBLIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN
County Executive Douglas M. Duncan announced today that free gun safety locks will be distributed at the Montgomery County Agricultural Fair, as part of a handgun safety campaign designed to reduce the number of children unintentionally injured or killed by firearms.
Six hundred gun safety locks will be distributed free of charge at the County's Health and Human Services (HHS) booth at the fair, which runs from August 11-19. On Sunday, August 13, from 3 to 5 p.m., Police Chief Charles Moose and Sheriff Raymond Kight - along with uniformed firearms instructors - will be on hand to distribute gun safety locks and hold a special demonstration on the proper use of the devices. The demonstration will take place at the Police Command Post on the fairgrounds.
"Kids and guns are a dangerous combination, and we're committed to doing everything we can to prevent senseless firearm tragedies from occurring," Duncan said. "If you own a gun, keep it unloaded, locked up and away from children."
In 1997, Duncan successfully led an effort to enact County legislation requiring gun dealers to provide child safety locks to purchasers of new handguns. Under Maryland State law, handguns must be stored out of reach of children under the age of sixteen.
The County's gun safety efforts come on the heels of recent gun-related incidents in the region involving young people. In one incident that occurred this past July in Gaithersburg, a 15-year-old girl was fatally wounded when a 15-year-old boy was showing off several handguns in his home to friends. Earlier this year, a 13-year-old Ellicott City boy was accidentally shot and killed by a friend playing recklessly with a rifle in his home.
According to the Center to Prevent Handgun Violence, more than 11 young people under the age of 20 are killed in gun homicides, suicides and unintentional shootings everyday in America. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control reports that the rate of firearm deaths for children up to the age of 14 is nearly twelve times higher in the United States than in 25 other industrialized countries combined.
County officials also announced today that an Emmy award winning gun safety public service announcement - produced by Potomac Incorporated of Bethesda - will begin airing on local television stations next week and will feature Police Chief Charles A. Moose and Sheriff Raymond Kight.
"Gun owners have a responsibility to safeguard their weapons in accordance with State and County laws," said Moose. "Moreover, they have a greater responsibility to protect their children and loved ones from unintentional harm. Acquiring and using gun safety locks will help gun owners accomplish both goals."
"An accidental shooting is a senseless tragedy that easily can be prevented with appropriate safety precautions including readily available, inexpensive devices such as gun safety locks," said Kight. "A firearm left unattended or unsecured is an invitation to disaster."
In addition to the public service announcements, brochures on gun safety will be distributed at the HHS booth as part of the education campaign. The education campaign promotes the following prevention strategies to keep a home safe:
For more information on the County's public education campaign contact: Seth Edlavitch, Public Health Advisor, at 240-777-4876.
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