Hennepin County Promotes Free Gun Locks at Local Libraries
A new initiative aims to reduce shooting deaths by handing out free gun locks.
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty announced a free gun lock giveaway program on Wednesday, April 23, at the Brooklyn Park Library.
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety is providing the locks, which will be available for free at participating Hennepin County Library branches — with no questions asked.
According to Moriarty, gun locks can help prevent suicides, accidental shootings, and crime related to stolen guns.
“Gun locks can also deter firearm thefts, or at least make a stolen gun unable to be fired,” Moriarty said. “Law enforcement tells us that often guns are stolen from cars that are stolen by young people who would be unable to fire the gun if it was locked.”
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty announces a free gun lock giveaway program at the Brooklyn Park Library.
The measure is supported by Jeff Lunde, a Hennepin County Commissioner and former mayor of Brooklyn Park, and Mark Bruley, Brooklyn Park’s police chief. The Organization of Liberians in Minnesota and Minnesota Moms Demand Action also spoke in support of the proposal.
“Accidental gun deaths are a preventable tragedy,” Bruley said. “Gun locks save lives — especially among the most vulnerable in our community.”
While locks are available at 11 library branches, Moriarty asked that gun owners not bring their firearms to the library when picking up a lock.
The following library branches will have free locks available:
- 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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