The Alpena County Sheriff’s Office is distributing free gun locks to encourage safe handling and storage practices of firearms. The locks may be used on various types of firearms including rifles, revolvers, shotguns, and semi-automatic handguns. While the supply lasts, the sheriff’s office will provide free gun locks to any member of our community.

Residents may obtain their free gun locks at the sheriff’s office, 320 Johnson Street.

A firearm safety device or gun lock is not a substitute for careful gun handling and storage. Locks can discourage unauthorized access to a firearm by young children, but they can be cut or defeated by a determined individual. Locks cannot prevent the intentional misuse of the firearm.

All adults have a responsibility to protect children from gun-related deaths and injuries. You can make guns safe in your home, but you cannot always control the actions of your children, other children or other adults in other homes or places. The most important act of prevention is to talk to your children about firearm safety.

If you own a gun, the sheriff’s office offers these tips:

∫ Unload your guns and lock them away.

∫ Lock and store ammunition separately.

∫ Hide keys, combinations, or other access information.

All parents should:

∫ Talk with their children about guns.

∫ Ask other parents and neighbors if guns are present, and/or are they safely stored at places where your children visit or play.

∫ Tell their children not to look for guns in their homes or the homes of friends.

∫ Teach their children that if they find a gun, STOP. Don’t touch the gun. Don’t let anyone else touch the gun. Leave the area and tell an adult at once. If they can’t find an adult, dial 911 and tell the police.

∫ Even if the gun looks like a toy, don’t touch it. Leave the area if other children are playing with a gun and tell a responsible adult.