The Wicomico County Health Department, Office of Prevention and Health Communications has received a grant from the Maryland Department of Health Center for Firearm Violence Prevention and Intervention to create a safe storage program. The Safe Storage Program aims to prevent gun-related injuries and deaths by providing free gun storage devices and raising awareness of safe storage practices.
An estimated 54 percent of gun owners do not store all of their guns securely. The gold standard for safe gun storage is to keep guns unloaded, locked up, and separate from ammunition. Keeping guns in a lock box or safe prevents unauthorized people, including children, from accessing them, preventing accidental shootings, suicide, homicide, and theft.
The Safe Storage Program will offer free gun storage devices and information at pop-up community events throughout Wicomico County. Devices will include lock boxes, carrying cases, and cable locks. The event schedule can be found at bit.ly/safestoragewicomico. For more information visit the Wicomico County Health Department’s website at www.wicomicohealth.org, or connect with us on Facebook and Instagram (WicomicoHealth).