City of Long Beach to Provide Free Gun Storage Safes to Promote Community Safety and Violence Prevention
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Long Beach, CA ~ Long Beach, CA - In an effort to protect children from potential gun-related accidents and safeguard against theft, the City of Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services (Health Department) has partnered with Parks, Recreation and Marine to distribute 200 free gun safes to the public. The distribution will take place at six park locations across Long Beach and one Health Department location in North Long Beach.

According to Mayor Rex Richardson, data shows that nearly 4.6 million American children live in homes with unlocked and loaded guns. "Safe firearm storage plays a critical role in preventing firearm injuries and death," he stated.

Firearms are the leading cause of death among children in the United States, making it crucial for parents and caregivers to follow gun safety guidelines. The Be SMART framework includes securing all guns in the home and vehicles, modeling responsible behavior around guns, asking about unsecured guns in other homes, recognizing the role of guns in suicide, and telling peers to Be SMART.

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The gun safes weigh 10 pounds and can fit two handguns. Along with the safes, educational materials on gun safety will also be provided for free to Long Beach residents on a first-come, first-served basis starting Monday, April 28 at various locations including Admiral Kidd Park, Cesar E. Chavez Park, Coolidge Park, Houghton Park, MacArthur Park, Orizaba Park, and Ron Arias Health Equity Center.

It is important to note that individuals should not bring their firearms to these sites as all weapons are prohibited at City facilities.

Dr. Anissa Davis, City Health Officer emphasized the importance of using a gun safe to store firearms as it reduces the risk of accidental injuries and fatalities among children. It also helps prevent unauthorized access which lowers the chances of firearm-related violence and suicide.

The funding for this project comes from the City's Fiscal Year 2025 budget which was approved by the Long Beach City Council. The amount of $35,478 in one-time funds was allocated as part of the Health Department's violence prevention strategy, aligning with Goal 2 (Design and invest in community safety and violence prevention) of the Framework for Reconciliation and Goal 5.1 (Children and Youth are Safe From Violence) of the City's 2030 Strategic Vision.

For more information on this initiative, individuals are encouraged to visit the Be Smart for Kids website.

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