The News Room [News Release]

Sheriff Contact: John Roach: 313-224-0615
Release Date: Sunday, July 11, 2004

Gun lock giveaway aims to protect kids --- Sheriff’s Office handing out 1,000 safety devices --- Accidental discharge has already claimed one young life this year

In an effort to reduce the risk of accidental gun deaths in our community the Wayne County Sheriff’s office is handing out 1,000 free gun locks to adults who keep guns in their home, Sheriff Warren Evans announced today.

Evans pointed out that because kids have more idle time on their hands during the summer, they are more likely to come across a gun their parents may be keeping for their personal protection.

“Unfortunately, we know that if a child gets their hands on a weapon, the consequences can be tragic. We hope that getting these gun locks out to responsible gun owners will help prevent that kind of community heartbreak,” Evans said.

In April of this year, seven-year old Deaire Simpkins of Detroit was killed when the gun he had found at his home and was playing with discharged, striking him in the neck.

Each year in the United States dozens of children are killed by the accidental discharge of a firearm. In most cases, the child was playing with an unsecured loaded gun he or she found in their home. Although the sheer number of deaths may be relatively small, they are all preventable, according to Evans.

“These are all avoidable tragedies,” said Evans. “We are providing these trigger locks so families can be safe from intruders and so parents won’t have to worry about their own children’s natural curiosity.”

Evans said his office is distributing the locks in conjunction with Project ChildSafe, a nationwide program whose purpose is to promote safe firearms handling and storage practices among all firearms owners. Project ChildSafe recently donated the gun locks to the Sheriff’s Office.

In addition to handing out the trigger locks to adults and educating them on how to use them properly, deputies also are having children sign forms pledging not to play with guns and to alert a grown up immediately if they find one.

“Impressing upon children that guns are not toys is not enough. We have to let them know what the proper thing to do is, should they come across one in their home,” Evans said. “If we can plant that seed early enough, then I’m convinced we can save lives.”

Starting Monday, July 12th, the gun locks also will be available at the following Sheriff’s Office locations:

Road Patrol Office
3100 Henry Ruff, north of Michigan Avenue in Westland
Phone: 734-721-2222

Administration building
1231 St. Antoine near Greektown in downtown Detroit
Phone: 313-224-2222

Highland Park mini-station
Model T-Plaza [Woodward @ Manchester, north of Davison Fwy]
Phone: 313-852-7338

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