To curb youth gun-related deaths, Polk County starts new gun safety initiative
Guns are one of the leading causes of death among children and young adults in Polk County, so officials have launched a new campaign to help curb youth gun-related injuries and deaths by encouraging responsible gun storage.
Helen Eddy, director of the Polk County Health Department, was one of several public officials who gathered Tuesday to promote the county's new initiative: Talk it up, Lock it Up. The campaign's goal is to normalize conversations about gun safety and safe storage among family and friends.
"We talk about car seat safety and the importance of wearing a bicycle helmet, but we aren't talking about guns. It's time for our community to come together to address this public health issue," Eddy said. "We know that safe gun storage can prevent gun-related injuries and deaths."
According to the health department, 234 people died from gun-related injuries between 2016 to 2020. In total, 52 deaths were of children and young adults between the ages 1 and 24.
Des Moines police recovered 730 guns last year — 32 of which were from people 17-years-old and younger, according to previous reporting from the Des Moines Register.
"We know that youth are at risk of gun injuries from accidental shootings and from school shootings or homicides," said Polk County Supervisor Angela Connolly. "But they are also at risk of dying by suicide with guns."
According to the health department, 66% of all gun-related deaths in Polk County between 2016 and 2020 were suicides. Of those, 82% used a gun belonging to a family member.
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To help reduce these statistics, the county health department is encouraging gun owners to keep their weapons locked, unloaded and out of reach of children. The department also said keys and combinations should be hidden.
Safe storage solutions include:
Full-size gun safe, which is good for storing multiple guns
Lock box or locker
Console or vehicle gun safe
Gun case, which can store one firearm at home or in a vehicle
Cable lock, which prevents the gun from firing
Trigger lock, which locks the trigger
The initiative includes advice on how to ask about safe and secure gun storage with friends and family members. An example included text messages that could be sent before a child is sent to a house for a sleepover like: "We've started talking about gun safety with the kids. So I wanted to ask if you still have your rifle? And if yes, could you please make sure it's stored locked and unloaded?"
"Let's change the culture and conversation around gun safety in Polk County," Connolly said. "Start talking to your friends and family members about gun safety."
As part of the imitative, the Polk County Health Department is giving away free gun locks. Locations include:
Polk County Health Department, 1907 Carpenter Ave., in Des Moines
Polk County Sheriff's Office, 5995 N.E. 14th St., in Des Moines
Ankeny Police Department, 411 S.W. Ordinance Road, in Ankeny
Johnston Police Department, 6373 Merle Hay Road, in Johnston
West Des Moines Police Department, 250 Mills Civic Parkway, in West Des Moines
For more information on Talk it Up, Lock it Up visit www.polkcountyiowa.gov/health-department/gun-safety.
Noelle Alviz-Gransee is a breaking news reporter at the Des Moines Register. Follow her on Twitter @NoelleHannika or email her at NAlvizGransee@registermedia.com.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Polk County wants to curb gun deaths with Talk it Up, Lock it Up
