Lakewood, Ohio – In an effort to promote safe firearm storage and protect the wellbeing of children, teens, and communities, the U.S. Attorney’s Office (USAO) for the Northern District of Ohio has launched a new awareness and education initiative. In collaboration with the City of Lakewood, the USAO is hosting an informational session titled “Safe Gun Storage Saves Lives,” scheduled for Thursday, October 3, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Cove Community Center, located at 12525 Lake Avenue, Lakewood, Ohio.
Community-Wide Event to Promote Safe Storage Practices
Residents from all communities are invited to attend the program, which will provide essential information about firearm safety, focusing particularly on the dangers of unsafe gun storage practices. Topics will include firearm-related accidents and self-harm incidents, particularly those affecting children and teens, and the impact on families and the wider community.
Speakers will include U.S. Attorney Rebecca Lutzko for the Northern District of Ohio, Marlon Johnson of the YMCA of Greater Cleveland, MetroHealth’s Anthony Zalewski, Lakewood Police Chief Kevin Fischer, and Mayor Meghan George. A demonstration of safe gun storage devices will be part of the program, and attendees will receive free gun locks without any requirement to provide personal information.
Highlighting the Tragedy of Unsafe Gun Storage
“When you make the choice to own a firearm, you owe it to your neighbors to do so responsibly,” said U.S. Attorney Rebecca Lutzko. She highlighted several recent cases involving young children accidentally discharging firearms they found in their homes, stressing that such tragedies are preventable.
“In April, a three-year-old child in Brunswick died from a gunshot wound after he found a gun in his home. Just a month later, a two-year-old in Euclid died the same way. And more recently, a five-year-old boy in Utah died after finding his parent’s gun,” Lutzko said. She emphasized that these incidents underline the urgent need to protect children and young adults from the dangers posed by improperly stored firearms.
Safe Storage Initiative Launched Amidst Rising Firearm-Related Suicides
The Safe Storage campaign began in September, aligning with National Suicide Prevention Month. Recent data highlights an alarming trend: firearm-related suicides rose 20% nationally from 2012 to 2022, with younger people seeing the highest increases. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that between 2003 and 2021, 85% of children fatally injured by firearms were in homes or apartments, and most of those incidents occurred in their own homes. Shockingly, over 70% of firearms used were stored loaded, and nearly 80% were left unlocked and easily accessible.
“We’re calling on our community partners and the public to help us spread awareness of these largely preventable accidents and instances of self-harm,” said U.S. Attorney Lutzko. “Much like seatbelt education saves lives in car accidents, promoting safe storage practices can save lives—especially those of children and teens.”
Resources and Future Initiatives
The USAO has made a variety of free resources available on its website to assist community members in spreading the word about safe gun storage. These materials include flyers, safety pledge certificates for adults and children, and firearm safety manuals for gun owners. The public is encouraged to visit justice.gov/usao-ndoh/safe-gun-storage for more information and follow the USAO on social media platforms like Facebook (@usaondoh) and X (@NDOHnews) for ongoing updates and safe storage tips.
Further community programs focusing on safe firearm storage are planned for the future, continuing efforts to ensure responsible gun ownership and prevent accidental tragedies in homes across Ohio.
