Community Corner
Gun Locks Distributed At These Milwaukee Locations: Where And When
As guns continue to be a leading cause of death for American children, a Milwaukee organization is looking to help keep firearms locked up.
![“We all have a responsibility to prevent senseless gun deaths and injuries that are impacting some of our youngest residents," said Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman in a news release about a gun lock distribution program across the city.](https://patch.com/img/cdn20/shutterstock/25016349/20230727/051322/styles/patch_image/public/shutterstock-1458654980-1___27171233281.jpg)
MILWAUKEE, WI — As adults and often children continue to be unintentionally injured by guns, a Milwaukee community organization is rallying to distribute gun locks across the city at several locations.
The United Neighborhood Centers of Milwaukee, an organization that aims to strengthen the lives of urban families, announced details on how and where people can get the gun locks on Tuesday. In its announcement, UNCOM pointed to an American Academy of Pediatrics study that showed how around 4.6 million children live with unlocked and loaded guns.
Firearms are among one of the leading causes of death in America for children. In 2020, guns were more deadly for kids than car accidents, according to a pair of reports.
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“At UNCOM, we are dedicated to reducing gun violence and creating safe spaces in our community,” said UNCOM Executive Director Renée Logee in a news release. “It is important to have locks readily available to decrease unintentional shootings. Thus, we offer Gun Locks at all UNCOM centers and encourage families to take use of them."
The program comes in line with "Safer City Milwaukee," a program sponsored by the Forest County Potawatomi Foundation to reduce violence, Logee said.
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UNCOM also pointed to a study in The Journal of the American Medical Association - Pediatrics that estimates youth gun suicides and unintentional deaths would be reduced by 33 percent if just half of the households with children and unlocked guns started locking their firearms.
“We all have a responsibility to prevent senseless gun deaths and injuries that are impacting some of our youngest residents. We are grateful for our partnership with UNCOM because far too often, we are seeing deadly consequences when children and teens get their hands on firearms,” said Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman in a news release. “I ask all gun owners to safely store their guns and keep them out of the hands of children. Their lives are at stake.”
Here are the details from UNCOM on where and when to get a gun lock:
United Neighborhood Center of Milwaukee (UNCOM) home office
1609 West North Avenue
Wednesdays 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. and as needed.
http://uncom-milw.org
City on a Hill
2224 West Kilbourn Avenue
At Health Outreach events the second Saturday of each month.
http://cityonahillmke.org
COA Youth and Family Centers
909 East Garfield Avenue, 2320 West Burleigh Street
As requested, and at their Food Pantry: Wednesdays 3-6 p.m. and Saturdays 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
https://www.coa-yfc.org/
Journey House
2110 West Scott Street
As requested.
http://www.journeyhouse.org/
Milwaukee Christian Center
807 South 14th Street
At their food pantry, Monday-Thursday 1-3 p.m.
https://mccwi.org
Neighborhood House of Milwaukee
2819 West Richardson Place, 53208
At their food pantry on Wednesdays 12-2 p.m. and Thursdays 4-6 p.m. plus at daily pick up, 7:30-9:30 a.m. and 3-7 p.m.
https://neighborhoodhousemke.o...
Neu-Life Community Development
2014 West North Avenue, 53205
As requested.
https://www.neu-life.org/
Northcott Neighborhood House
2460 North 6th Street
As requested.
https://northcotthouse.org/
Silver Spring Neighborhood Center
5460 North 64th Street, 53218
As requested, and at their Food Pantry: Mondays and Wednesdays from 11am-2 pm
https://www.ssnc-milw.org/
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