Hennepin County Attorney’s Office, Hennepin County announce gun locks partnership

The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office announced a partnership with Hennepin County to provide free gun locks at 11 libraries throughout the county.

*Please Note: Do not bring firearms into libraries when picking up a free gun lock.

Safe storage of firearms helps prevent accidental discharges, injuries, and deaths. By making locks widely available at no cost, gun-owning residents of Hennepin County can ensure they are adhering to safe storage practices.

“When properly used, gun locks offer an effective barrier that prevents a firearm from being discharged,” Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said. “They also help to prevent self-harm by creating a time delay between someone’s suicidal thoughts and their ability to act on them. I’m grateful for our partnership with Hennepin County and with the Minnesota Department of Public Safety in making these gun locks available and accessible.”

According to Centers for Disease Control data, there are around 500 unintentional firearm deaths per year and nearly 30,000 unintentional firearm injuries.

Jeffrey Lunde, Hennepin County Commissioner, District 1:

“As a youth, I was fortunate to complete training on gun safety multiple times and have people in my life who reinforced how to respect and handle guns. Gun locks help to promote safe firearm handling and storage, and to be a deterrent in those cases where guns may be handled by untrained or non-owners.”

Mark Bruley, Police Chief, Brooklyn Park Police Department:

“Accidental gun deaths are a preventable tragedy. Gun locks save lives—especially among the most vulnerable in our community.”

Katie Sale, Volunteer, Minnesota Moms Demand Action:

“When we educate our neighbors on how to prevent gun violence and normalize secure gun storage practices, we can save lives. We are thankful to the Hennepin County Attorney's Office and the County for taking action today to encourage responsible gun ownership and keep our communities safe."

The list of participating library locations is below:

Brookdale Library (includes Service Center and Courts), 6125 Shingle Creek Pkwy Suite 800, Brooklyn Center
Brooklyn Park Library, 8500 W Broadway, Brooklyn Park
Hennepin County Law Library, 300 South 6th St #24, Minneapolis
Hosmer Library, 347 E 36th St, Minneapolis
North Regional Library, 1315 Lowry Ave N, Minneapolis
Penn Lake Library, 8800 Penn Ave S, Minneapolis
Ridgedale Library (includes Service Center and Courts), 12601 Ridgedale Dr, Minnetonka
Rockford Road Library, 6401 N 42nd Ave, Crystal
Rogers Library, 21300 John Milless Dr, Rogers
St. Louis Park Library, 3240 Library Ln, St Louis Park
Webber Park Library, 4440 N Humboldt Ave, Minneapolis

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