Gun safety press conference at Gary's Public Safety Facility

Gary Police and POP say: 'If you don't want to turn in your gun, at least put a lock on it'

Contributed By: The 411 News

Partners hold up gun locks to be given away free in Gary

‘If you don’t want to turn in your gun, at least be smart and put a lock on it’ was the message at the press conference held by Project Outreach and Prevention (POP) on Youth Violence and the Gary Police Department, announcing a gun turn-in campaign and distribution of free gun locks to the public.

“This is our call to action for what has become a public health crisis,” Dr. Michael McGee said about guns becoming the nation’s leading cause of death for kids under the age of 19; replacing deaths caused by automobile accidents. “And it has become an epidemic for children under 5,” he said.

In recent months, two Gary toddlers died from gunfire and a third seriously injured. A toddler died in Merrillville from gunfire, earlier this month.

All of the children were in their homes, said McGee, founder of POP and Emergency Room department physician at Methodist Hospitals. The children were brought to Methodist Hospitals locations in Gary and Merrillville.

The coalition’s call to action says a lot about the culture in the United States where there are more guns than people. For them, it makes sense that their safety initiative will include the distribution of gun locks to schools and promoting ‘Stop The Bleed’ training.

“I can’t imagine what a parent feels, to hear the loud bang in their home and realize that they’re only there with their children … the panic that goes through their minds. We’re here today to keep another parent from going through that,” said Gary Police Chief Anthony Titus.

A donation of $10,000 from The Methodist Hospitals and Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana will purchase 5,000 gun locks to be given away for free. A “no questions asked” gun turn-in was held on December 16. A second gun turn-in will be held Friday, December 22, from 1 to 6pm at the Gary Public Safety Facility, 555 Polk Street. Gun locks are being distributed on both dates.

More gun locks will be given away at community events. Methodist Hospitals and Hard Rock Casino each donated $5,000.

Matt Doyle, the CEO of The Methodist Hospitals said he immediately responded without hesitation to Gary Deputy Mayor Trent McCain’s call to help with the purchase of gun locks. “As a corporate partner of the city and the community’s health care provider, we look for opportunities to stop this violence. We want to make sure we keep everyone safe. We want those locks to be used.”

Matt Schuffert, the President of Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana said, “Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana’s commitment to the community will always include the public safety of its residents. Hopefully, what Methodist Hospitals and Hard Rock are doing today will encourage other big corporations in this city and area to step up and help communities in need. We are also grateful to the Gary Police Department for stepping up with proactive solutions.”

Gun owners should use common sense about gun safety said Lake County Prosecutor Bernard Carter.

Take bullets out of the gun, Carter said. “In all these cases, without exception, if a round had not been chambered, there is no way that a 2 or 4-year-old, a 6 or 8-year old could chamber that round. It takes a lot of power to put a bullet in that chamber. That in itself is a gun lock.”

Parents need to educate their kids about guns, Dr. McGee said. “This is a message for the holidays. They need to know when they go to a relative’s or friend’s house, what and what not to do. They need to know if they find a gun in a couch, purse or car, to not play with it or point it.”

“Put them out of reach of children, in a high place or cabinet that they can’t get to,” said Caryn Timmons, Lake County Dept. Child Services Division Manager. Timmons is the head of the assessment unit which investigates cases of child neglect and abuse. She delivered gun locks donated by Geminus Community Partners.

Students from Williams Elementary School and teens from POP’s High Risk Program demonstrated ‘Stop The Bleed,’ a technique that is being promoted nationally to help in a bleeding emergency until professional help arrives.

Story Posted:12/20/2023