LANSING, Mich. (WZMQ) – The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is rolling out a program to distribute free gun locks.
New gun laws in Michigan require households where minors are present to store unattended weapons unloaded and locked with a locking device or in a lock box.
The state’s Chief Medical Executive, Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian said the laws aim to reduce the number of firearm deaths, which have become the leading cause of death for children in the U.S.
The National Safety Council reported 461 accidental firearm deaths in 2022, making up 1% of the total firearm death rate for that year. In over 95% of those cases, the firearm was stored unlocked and loaded, hidden in places like under a mattress, in a side table drawer, or on a top shelf.
“We know that kids are so good at finding things they’re not supposed to find. and those places, they may seem like hiding places to folks, but they are not going to keep dangerous weapons out of the hands of our littlest Michiganders.” Dr Bagdasarian said. “We need to start thinking about this, not as a political issue, which for a long time has been billed as a political issue. but this is a health issue because this is killing our young people.”
The program is a partnership between the Michigan State Police, the Department of Health and Human Services, and a national program called Project ChildSafe, which distributes gun locks across the country.
“When I think of gun locks I assumed that they would be something really bulky, but they’re not. They’re cable-style gun locks that come with a little set of keys.” Dr. Bagdasarian said. “It’s very lightweight, very portable, but they could potentially save a life.”
The locks can be used on most firearms, and come with detailed instructions for installation. The locks will be available at MDHHS centers and some local health departments.
Gun locks will be made available at:
- Marquette County MDHHS
- Houghton County MDHHS
- Delta County MDHHS
- Chippewa County MDHHS
- Chippewa County Health Dept.
- Marquette County Health Department
- Public Health Delta & Menominee Counties
- Luce-Mackinac-Alger-Schoolcraft District Health Dept.
- Western Upper Peninsula Health
Dr. Bagdasarian said they are excited to roll out the program and get the locks to locations by the beginning of June.
