Richmond Heights, Ohio – In a bid to reduce firearms-related accidents and suicides, the U.S. Attorney’s Office (USAO) for the Northern District of Ohio has launched a new initiative aimed at raising awareness about safe gun storage practices. The initiative, in collaboration with the Richmond Heights Police Department, includes an event titled “Safe Gun Storage Saves Lives,” scheduled for Thursday, September 19, from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Richmond Heights Community Center. This event is free and open to residents from all communities.
Raising Awareness on Firearm Safety
The program will focus on the dangers associated with improperly stored firearms, particularly for children and teens. Topics will include data and trends on firearm-related accidents, suicides, and the connection between these incidents and unsafe storage practices. The event will also feature a demonstration on gun locks, safe storage devices, and free gun lock distribution for attendees—no personal information is required to receive a lock.
The program features key speakers including U.S. Attorney Rebecca Lutzko, firearms safety advocate Michelle Bell, MetroHealth Injury Prevention Coordinator Anthony Zalewski, Richmond Heights Police Chief Calvin Williams, and Richmond Heights Mayor Kim Thomas. Each will emphasize the importance of responsible gun ownership and storage.
Tragic Examples and the Need for Safe 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 shared several tragic examples, including the story of a three-year-old in Brunswick who died after finding a gun in his home and accidentally discharging it. “Every one of these tragedies could have been prevented,” Lutzko emphasized.
The initiative aims to address not only accidental gun discharges but also the growing issue of firearm-related suicides. National data from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) show a 20% increase in firearm-related suicides between 2012 and 2022, with younger people being the most affected.
The program coincides with National Suicide Prevention Month, recognized each September, and highlights the importance of keeping firearms out of reach in homes where at-risk individuals may reside. According to the CDC, 85% of children fatally injured by firearms were at home at the time, with many of these guns being stored unlocked and loaded.
Spreading the Message of Safe Gun Storage
The USAO has made resources available on its website to help community members spread awareness about safe storage practices. These include bulletin board flyers, safety pledge certificates, and firearm safety manuals. U.S. Attorney Lutzko urged the public and community partners to spread awareness about safe gun storage, stating, “Much like seatbelt education helps to save lives of those involved in car accidents, spreading the word about safe storage will save lives—many times, the lives of our children and teens.”
The USAO also encourages the public to follow them on social media platforms such as Facebook and X, where they will be sharing gun safety tips and information over the coming weeks. Additional community programs focused on safe storage practices will be announced as part of this ongoing initiative.
For more information on the September 19 program, contact Jessica Salas Novak at 216-622-3921 or [email protected]. To explore the free resources available for safe gun storage, visit the USAO’s website at www.justice.gov/usao-ndoh/safe-gun-storage.