Green County promotes firearm safety
In response to firearms becoming the leading cause of death among children ages 1 to 17, Green County Public Health recently launched a community-wide campaign to help people store their guns safely and prevent accidents. As part of this effort, more than 200 free gun locks were distributed at local health fairs, pediatric health care providers and through a harm reduction vending machine that is available 24/7 at the Green County Government Services Building. Local law enforcement agencies participating in Project ChildSafe provided the firearm locks, and were paired with a keychain to promote the national Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: 988.
To spread the word and educate the community, a public health nurse and health educator visited every gun shop in Green County and distributed campaign flyers directly to retailers. This helped ensure firearm owners receive the needed safety information right where they shop.
The campaign also reached the public through multiple media channels. A large billboard was displayed in the county, WEKZ radio ads carried the message across the airwaves and a commercial ran on Green County TV to reinforce the importance of safe firearm practices. This campaign was funded by the Wisconsin Department of Justice through the Statewide Crisis Intervention Program, County & Tribe-Led Response & Harm Reduction 2023.
The campaign emphasizes three simple but important safety steps:
- Always store firearms unloaded.
- Keep ammunition stored separately.
- Use a secure method such as a gun lock or safe.
By taking these precautions, families can help reduce the risk of accidental injuries, suicides and other tragedies.