Guest Post: Remember to Secure Firearms This Holiday Season

Image from Canva

By Claire Lucas and Hannah Gay Keao

As we approach the season of gatherings and vacation playdates, we are two local mothers who want to share some resources on safely storing and securing firearms, especially around children. According to CDC data, nearly 700 children die by firearm suicide each year and another 110 are unintentionally shot and killed. So much of this harm is preventable when firearms are stored out of access to our community’s kids.

For parents and caregivers, even if you are not a gun owner, it’s a great practice to confirm that your loved ones’ and friends’ firearms are secured away from children’s access as you and your children visit friends and family.

Hiding a firearm is not the same as securing it; our children often know where guns are stored in the home and in vehicles. It is important that any firearm is secured and inaccessible to children.

There are a variety of ways to secure guns in your home and vehicles, from full-size and console size gun safes, lock boxes, gun cases, trigger locks and cable locks. Prices vary from a minimal investment to around $2,000, depending on the size and type of secure storage you choose. There are many options to secure firearms that provide owners access within a matter of seconds, while still preventing access by children and individuals at risk of harming themselves.

For several years now the Edgewater Police Department has had free gun locks available to community members at their front desk inside the Edgewater Civic Center (1800 S Harlan). Free gun locks are also available at several local pediatrician offices, and both locks and more robust storage systems can be purchased at several sporting goods and firearm retailers.

Locking up guns will help reduce the risk of firearm suicide, unintentional firearm injury and also help prevent firearm theft. It is also the law in Colorado that firearms remain secured when not in use or on someone’s person, whether in homes or in vehicles.

We wish everyone a warm and safe holiday season.

Claire Lucas and Hannah Gay Keao are both Edgewater community members who volunteer to help reduce harm in our communities from guns and gun-related violence. Hannah is also a Councilwoman serving the city of Edgewater.

Joel Newton

Joel has been a resident of Edgewater, Colorado with his family since 2012. He is the Executive Director of local education nonprofit Edgewater Collective and Editor of the Edgewater Echo.