With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today .
LA County Explores Giving Away Free Gun Locks At Hospitals and Medical Campuses
Supervisor Janice Hahn brought a cable gun lock to the L.A. County Board of Supervisors meeting to show her colleagues what it looks like.
(
Screenshot of the L.A. County Board of Supervisors meeting livestream
)
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a motion on Tuesday that will explore giving away free gun locks at county-operated hospitals and medical campuses.
What are gun locks?
Gun locks are a way of securing firearms, which is required by state law if there are children in the home. There are a variety of different locks out there, but one of the most common kinds is the cable lock, according to the California attorney general's office.
The locks usually have a steel cable that can be looped through the gun to prevent accidental firing. The gun can be used again once the cable is released using a set of keys that comes with the lock. However, unlike a lock-box or gun safe, cable locks aren’t designed to prevent theft or keep firearms out of reach.
Support for LAist comes from
Supervisor Janice Hahn showed off a cable lock to her colleagues during the meeting.
“They're very easy to use, they're very secure and they make a lot of sense,” she said. “Using gun locks can prevent tragedies in the home, especially with children.”
Hahn pointed to a deadly incident in July when a 3-year-old accidentally shot and killed their 1-year-old sister in their San Diego home.
Why hospitals?
Hahn said hospitals around the country are giving away free gun locks because some studies have shown that people are more likely to use gun locks at home if they’re given to them by a doctor or in a medical setting.
A 2022 study from Cincinnati Children's found that when a hospital gave gun locks to families of children with mental health concerns, more than 70% used them to lock up their firearms at home.
Support for LAist comes from
As 150 children came to St. Louis Children’s Hospital with gunshot wounds in 2020, the trauma department put out a basket of free gun locks that October. The “No Questions Asked” basket was placed in a discreet part of the emergency room waiting area so that people wouldn’t stare, but it could still be seen by families.
Nearly 3,000 gun locks have been taken since the program began and it’s since been expanded to other hospital emergency rooms, according to BJC HealthCare. The St. Louis Children's Hospital will even mail a free gun lock to Illinois and Missouri residents through their online request form.
How would it work in L.A. County?
The small, handheld locks will be stored in containers at county hospitals and medical campuses to be taken home after a doctor’s visit. Do not bring your firearm to the hospital, Hahn said — you don’t need to prove you have one to take home a lock.
The L.A. County Office of Violence Prevention, which is under the Department of Public Health, and the Department of Health Services now have 45 days to come up with a plan for the free gun locks.
Officials will need to figure out how many hospitals would participate, how many locks they’d need, and how they’ll be distributed. The departments will also need to develop educational campaigns and identify any resources needed to purchase the locks.
Where else can you get gun locks?
Gun locks have been given away for free at gun buyback events in L.A. County, Hahn said.
Support for LAist comes from
You can also get a free cable-style gun lock and safety instructions through Project Childsafe and its local law enforcement partners, like the Hermosa Beach Police Department and the Burbank Police Department.
The California Department of Justice also has a searchable list of approved safety devices with 219 results for cable locks.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The study found recipients spent nearly all the money on basic needs like food and transportation, not drugs or alcohol. -
Kevin Lee's Tokyo Noir has become one of the top spots for craft-inspired cocktails. -
A tort claim obtained by LAist via a public records request alleges the Anaheim procurement department lacks basic contracting procedures and oversight. -
Flauta, taquito, tacos dorados? Whatever they’re called, they’re golden, crispy and delicious. -
If California redistricts, the conservative beach town that banned LGBTQ Pride flags on city property would get a gay, progressive Democrat in Congress. -
Most survivors of January's fires face a massive gap in the money they need to rebuild, and funding to help is moving too slowly or nonexistent.
Best of LAist