Sunnyvale DPS is pitching in on the nationwide campaign for the secure storage of personal firearms with a straightforward offering: Free gun locks at 700 All America Way. The initiative comes amid sweeping efforts to bolster domestic and vehicle gun safety, as these locations remain critical in preventing firearms misuse and theft.
The renowned Shaquille O’Neal has joined with police departments across the United States in a concerted push for this cause, a necessary step given the chilling incidents that too often stem from firearms falling into the wrong hands, among them children who should never have been able to claim them in their palms. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, gun injuries are tragically the leading cause of death in youth aged 1-19. As reported by the Pew Research Center, firearms amount to over half of all suicides, a figure that is both staggering and preventable. Harvard's School of Public Health echoes a similar sentiment, drawing a direct and stark line between increased suicide risk and firearm access. In conjunction with this information, Shaq's message is not just a call but a plea for responsibility: "You may have a right to carry, but you have a duty to secure your firearms", as per Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety.
In support of nationwide efforts to encourage safe storage of personal firearms, we are sharing public service information.
— Sunnyvale DPS (@SunnyvaleDPS) September 3, 2024
The goal is to encourage safe storage of firearms in homes and vehicles.
FREE GUN LOCKS ARE AVALABLE AT SUNNYVALE DPS, 700 All America Way. pic.twitter.com/caE2LWof7n
In alignment with these efforts, a public service announcement, anchored by the solid repute of O'Neal's voice, sets out to educate on the importance of firearm safety. Approximately 200,000 guns are victims of theft each year, with vehicles standing as the likeliest scene for these crimes. This number has tripled in the past decade.
