Duncan Announces Handgun Safety Campaign: County to Distribute 1,000 Handgun Locks

Header--Montgomery County, Maryland. Press Releases

eb/trigger lock.pr 99-263

Contact: Esther Bowring, 240-777-6530
or Mary Anderson, 240-777-1702

For Immediate Release (July 22, 1999)

Duncan Announces Handgun Safety Campaign:
County to Distribute 1,000 Handgun Locks

Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan today launched a handgun safety education campaign to promote use of handgun locks and lockable handgun boxes in an effort to protect children from unintentional injury.

Sponsored by the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, the campaign includes two video public service announcements, fact sheets and a brochure.

Montgomery County law requires gun dealers to provide child safety handgun devices to anyone who buys or leases a handgun. Under the law, handguns must be stored out of reach of unsupervised children, and loaded guns cannot be left where unsupervised children can access them. Maryland State law also regulates gun safety by requiring parents to take proper steps to keep guns away from children and store their guns out of reach of children under the age of 16 years.

As part of the campaign, the Department of Health and Human Services purchased 1,000 child safety handgun locks that will be distributed free at public events to residents who sign a handgun safety contract. Members of the Washington Chiefs, a semi-professional football team under contract to the Marylanders Against Handgun Abuse, will be appearing at events around the County to distribute the safety locks.

"Every year, an estimated 1,500 children under the age of 14 are treated in emergency rooms for unintentional gun related injuries," said Duncan. "Yet, most parents, with school-age kids, who keep a gun in the home believe their children are safe from the firearm. Montgomery County is committed to educating parents so we can protect all children and prevent every unintentional injury and death."

The County's public education campaign also includes a letter from Duncan and Montgomery County Health Officer Dr. Carol Garvey. The letter was sent to all Montgomery County pediatricians seeking their help in educating parents about the risks associated with keeping guns at home and giving them the opportunity to order a "Steps to Prevent (STOP) Firearm Injury" kit that contains brochures, posters, and fact sheets.

"Parents may be more receptive to hearing from their pediatricians about prevention strategies for keeping their children healthy," Garvey said. "Shockingly, one out of six pediatricians in the country have treated a child or adolescent involved in a firearm shooting. We want to do everything we can to keep the children in Montgomery County safe."

Duncan was also joined by Sheriff Ray Kight, Ginni Wolf, executive director of the Marylanders Against Handgun Abuse, local pediatrician Dr. Linda Goldstein, president of the Montgomery County-Prince Georges' County Pediatric Society, and Washington Chief's Executive Director Richard Myles.

The education campaign promotes the following prevention strategies to keep a home safe:

· Keep the gun unloaded and locked up.

· Lock and store bullets separately from the gun.

· Always keep guns away from children.

· Teach children never to touch a gun without an adult present.

· Always use a child safety handgun lock on gun(s).

· Teach children that guns are dangerous.

· Know the state and local gun laws.

For more information or for a copy of the County's brochure, "You Can Protect Children Against Handgun Injuries," call 240-777-1710.

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