INDIANAPOLIS — Local faith leaders and police came together to help curb gun violence Sunday, this time by handing out free gun locks in hopes of keeping guns from kids.
"Much like a handgun, you can't insert a magazine, or you can't chamber a round into your AR," a Marion County sheriff's official said.
It was part of an effort from faith leaders at New Liberty Missionary Baptist Church on the city's east side and local police, to give gun owners free gun locks.
"We need people to use these to keep them out of the hands of our kids," a Marion County sheriff's official said.
With the rise in recent shootings among teens and young children, local gun owners say it is time to invest in locks.
"I have a gun box locked to my bed, I have one in here, I have it locked to my car," Mary Wallace said.
Mary Wallace has been a gun owner for six years.
"A lot of young grandchildren in the house, I want to make sure they're safe, so they just won't pick up my gun and just think it's a toy and start shooting," Wallace said.
The pastor of New Liberty said while the locks won't solve issues overnight, he believes it's a much-needed step in the right direction.
"I used to work in Pike Township schools, and I can't tell you, over the past ten years, how many students I have lost to accidental gun violence," said Pastor Darrell Brooks.
Gun locks are also available at all branches of the Indianapolis Public Library during regular library hours while supplies last.
“Gun locks are simple tools, but they can address a significant source of the gun deaths we have seen this year in our city,” Hogsett said. “Our goal today is to make responsible gun ownership as easy and accessible as possible, because if you don’t take responsibility now, you may be responsible later.”
The distribution event took place July 2 from noon to 2 p.m. at the church, 10125 E. 30th St.
In 2023, the City of Indianapolis is seeing an increase in accidental and unintended shootings involving both adults and children.
So far in 2023, there have been a total of three accidental homicides and 77 accidental non-fatal shootings.
In 2022 at this time, there had been one accidental homicide and 25 accidental non-fatal shootings.
Of the 77 accidental non-fatal shootings that have happened this year, 81% of those were accidental involving the person handling the firearm themselves, while 19% were accidental involving another person.
A quarter of this year’s non-fatal accidental shootings have involved juveniles.
Officials hope that urging owners to store their guns unloaded, locked and separate from ammunition will reduce the number of firearm injuries.
“Far too often, we are seeing children and teens get their hands on firearms, and the consequences are deadly," IMPD Chief Randal Taylor said. "I ask all gun owners to safely store their guns and keep them out of the hands of children. Their lives are at stake."
About 600 cable-style gun locks were purchased and provided by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. The remaining locks were provided by Project ChildSafe, which is funded by the United States Department of Justice.
Each kit includes safety information, as well as a cable-style gun lock. The lock is designed to fit most semi-automatic handguns, revolvers, rifles, shotguns and gun cases.
“The Marion County Sheriff’s Office is proud to have provided free gun locks to our community for over a decade, but sadly, the need appears greater than ever," Marion County Sheriff Kerry Forestal said. "That’s why we are pleased to partner with our colleagues at IMPD in this important effort to turn back the tide of preventable injuries and death, especially amongst our youngest citizens."
There was a "no questions asked" policy when distributing the locks, and there was a limit of two locks per person.
Attendees did not need to bring firearms for lock installment.