June is National Gun Violence Awareness Month. Learn how you can help reduce gun violence by keeping your firearms safe.
According to North Carolina Health and Human Services, 1,651 people died firearm-related deaths in 2020. Firearms were involved in more than two-thirds (68.1 percent) of all violent deaths in North Carolina in 2020.
Recently, Raleigh Police Chief Estella Patterson met with Congresswoman Deborah Ross, Wake County Sheriff Willie Rowe, and other community leaders to discuss gun violence. Their roundtable discussion included such topics as safe storage, gun safety laws, and progress made so far.
“We cannot do this alone, nor in isolation; we must all work together,” Chief Patterson said. “I urge each community and neighborhood to create activities for everyone to engage in and find ways to combat violence in all forms.”
Safe Firearm Storage
An estimated 4.6 million American children live in a home where at least one gun is kept loaded and unlocked.
If you own a gun, it’s your responsibility to safely secure it. Lock your firearm every single time. Follow these tips to keep your firearm secure:
- If your lock uses a combination or code, choose one that can’t be easily guessed by children or other unauthorized users.
- If your lock requires a key, make sure you hide the key someplace it can’t easily be found.
- Lock your firearm regardless of whether it’s in your home or in your vehicle.
- Consider storing ammunition separately.
According to RPD, there are a range of options for securing your firearm:
- Cable lock - A cable lock threads through the barrel or action of a firearm to prevent someone else from firing it;
- Gun case - A gun case is a safe place to secure your firearms at home and beyond. The case can also protect your firearms from damage;
- Gun safe - A gun safe is the most secure choice for locking up your firearm. They come with a variety of lock options, including electronic and biometric locks;
- Lockbox - A lockbox can be portable or bolted down for additional security. There are also options designed specifically for use in vehicles; and,
- Trigger lock - A trigger lock fits easily over the trigger guard of a firearm to prevent the trigger from being pulled.
Why Orange?
Orange marks the National Gun Violence Awareness month. But why orange?
In January 2013, Hadiya Pendleton, 15, was shot and killed on a playground in Chicago. Soon after, her friends commemorated her life by wearing orange, the color hunters wear in the woods to protect themselves and others. Wear Orange is now observed every June. Thousands of people wear the color to honor Hadiya and others killed with guns.
