St. Joseph County health agency distributing free gun safety locks

The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency is distributing free cable gun locks to promote firearm safety and compliance with state law.

The initiative aligns with Michigan’s Public Act 17 of 2023, which requires individuals to keep unattended weapons unloaded and secured with a locking device or stored in a locked box or container if a minor is likely to be present on the premises.

The program began six months ago, and the gun locks are available at all three locations of the health department in Three Rivers, Coldwater, and Hillsdale. Individuals can request cable locks at these locations free of charge and without obligation. Due to limited stock, distribution is on a first-come, first-served basis.

“We currently have a supply available, and individuals can visit our clinic services area to request the number of locks they need for their personal firearms,” said Kris Dewey, the agency’s health education and promotion supervisor, who oversees the program. “We just ask that people request only what they need to ensure others in the community also have access.”

The cable locks, primarily designed for handguns, function by threading through the firearm’s barrel and into the chamber, preventing unauthorized use. Funding for the initiative comes from a partnership between the state’s health and police department.

So far, between 300 and 400 locks have been distributed across all locations and the program will continue as long as supplies remain available. “As we get low in stock, we request more from the state health department,” Dewey said. There is no set end date for the program.

Community response has been positive, with many residents appreciating the effort to promote safe firearm storage and compliance with Michigan’s updated gun laws, Dewey mentioned. 

“We have a culture of gun ownership in these counties, and from what we’ve seen, most gun owners here are responsible. We haven’t had significant reports of accidental shootings or incidents involving children accessing unsecured firearms,” Dewey said.

Those interested in obtaining a lock can visit designated distribution points while supplies last.

According to the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Michigan had the 16th highest gun homicide rate in the country in 2022, and firearms were the leading cause of death among children and teens ages 1 to 17 that year.

Najifa Farhat is a staff reporter for Watershed Voice.