Local Leaders Aim To Prevent Tragedy With Free Gun Lock Distribution
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – An accidental shooting from an unlocked gun is a tragedy—one that local leaders are hoping to prevent with a free gun lock distribution Thursday.
The gun locks, 300 of them, were distributed for free from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday in Alamo Park at Jackson Memorial Hospital.
Firearm injury is a leading cause of death among children and youth—and many of these occurrences are caused by unintentional shootings.
"There are over 200 children and youth that came into the Ryder Children's Trauma Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital who'd been shot. One in 10 of them died," said Dr. Tanya Zakirson, a trauma surgeon.
READ: Condition Upgraded For 3-Year-Old Who Accidentally Shot Herself
Jackson Health System's Holtz Children's Hospital and the University of Miami Department of Pediatrics has partnered with the Miami-Dade Police Department, Miami-Dade County Public Schools and the Miami-Dade Office of the State Attorney, along with other entities, to make a public plea to parents and adults with guns to use safety measures—like making firearms inaccessible to children.
"I often talk about the fact that we have a moral responsibility to show up, to stand up and to speak up for our children," said Miami-Dade Schools' Superintendent Alberto Carvalho. "It is the community's responsibility. Today I'm urging people to not only show up, stand up and speak up for children but also to lock up."
One way to ensure safety is storing guns safely away from where children live and play.
If the gun is kept where children live, or visit, then the gun should be locked—either in a safe or with a gun lock, according to the local leaders who are spearheading the free distribution. It is not enough to hide the gun, according to experts.
"If we can get one gun lock in the right person's hand to prevent or slow down the wrong person from having access to a weapon there's a very good possibility that this strategy will in fact save lives in our community," said J.D. Patterson, Director of the Miami Dade Police Department.
The gun lock is a cable that is inserted either through the barrel or through the magazine opening which prevents a bullet from being loaded.
For those who missed the giveaway, but is interested in obtaining a gun lock, a similar device can be purchased at a hardware store.
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