Gun Locks Can Help Prevent the Tragedy of Suicide

The Adams County Suicide Prevention Coalition (ACSPC) is partnering with Tri-State Together with Veterans in urging gun owners to keep firearms secured (locked with a gun lock or stored in a gun safe) when not in use.  More than 50% of all deaths by suicide involve the use of firearms.  If firearms are secured, we may be able to prevent deaths by suicide or accidental means.

Free gun locks are available at a variety of locations:  Game Masters, Mike’s Pawn Shop, W. Quincy Pawn, Flower Mill Trading Post (Canton), B & B Livestock (Camp Point), area gun ranges (RKBA, McKee Creek, Practical Tactical, W. Quincy Gun Club, Northside Boat Club, PASA Park), area tattoo parlors (Saints & Sinners, Above & Beyond, Threshold of Pain, Rams Horn, Pleasurable Pain, 5th Street Tattoo, Mike Love Tattoo), Blessing Clinics in Palmyra and Hamilton/Warsaw, and at  Blessing Outpatient Behavioral Health in Quincy and QuAnada.

All of us can prevent the tragedy of suicide by watching for the signs that someone may be thinking of suicide, reaching out to those who appear to be struggling with life problems, asking if a person has had thoughts of ending his/her life, and urging a person to get help if they are struggling.  Using a gun lock and eliminating a firearm as a means a person may use to end his or her life is one more way we can prevent deaths by suicide.