Gun safety awareness press conference slated for June 6
On Thursday, May 25, the Board of Commissioners unanimously passed a resolution designating June as National Safety Month in Oakland County. In conjunction with this measure, the Board announces their annual Gun Safety Awareness press conference, which will be held on Tuesday, June 6, at 2 p.m. in the Commissioners Auditorium at 1200 N. Telegraph Road in Pontiac. The press conference seeks to raise awareness about the importance of safe gun ownership in preventing gun violence. It will also kick-off the Board’s annual gun safety lock giveaway, a program that promotes safe gun ownership by distributing free gun locks to the public via local police departments.
“As a 49-year veteran of law enforcement, I have seen the horror and impact of gun violence,” stated Commissioner Bill Dwyer, chair of the Public Services Committee and member of the Gun Violence Study Group. “That is why I strongly believe in gun locks. Simply put, gun safety locks can save lives. Unsecured weapons in our homes far too often become the tools of horrific accidents or fall into the hands of dangerous criminals.”
The Board of Commissioners has partnered with the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office and the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) on this important public safety initiative for this event annually for the past four years. NSSF supplies the locks at no cost to taxpayers.
This year’s event will feature a special focus on suicide prevention through means restriction. Means restriction is an effort to limit the accessibility and choice of lethal means, such as guns, and to promote safe storage practices. Leigh-Anne Stafford, Health Officer for Oakland County Health Division, will speak on this critical public health issue and what they are doing to address it. They will have small gun lock boxes available for pickup throughout the community at select locations at no charge. For more information on the Health Division gun lock boxes and a list of participating distribution sites, visit www.oakgov.com/health.
Oakland County Sheriff Michael J. Bouchard will demonstrate how to properly utilize the gun safety devices featured. More than thirty local law enforcement agencies will be represented at the press conference and will participate in distributing the gun safety devices.
“We encourage citizens to use gun safety devices, whether it is a trigger lock, lock box, or gun safe,” said Bouchard. “Properly securing weapons is critical in helping to prevent accidental shootings, suicide, and theft.”
Members of the public can go to participating local law enforcement agencies to obtain a free gun lock while supplies last. For more information about the press conference or an updated list of participating law enforcement agencies, please call the Board of Commissioners office at 248-858-0100 or visit their website at www.oakgov.com/boc.
Participating departments include:
Addison Township (OCSO Substation)
Auburn Hills Police Department
Berkley Police Department
Beverly Hills Village Police Department
Birmingham Police Department
Bloomfield Hills Police Department
Bloomfield Township Police Department
Brandon Township (OCSO Substation)
City of Pontiac (OCSO Substation)
City of Rochester Hills (OCSO Substation)
Clawson Police Department
Commerce Township (OCSO Substation)
Farmington Hills Police Department
Ferndale Police Department
Farmington Police Department
Hazel Park Police Department
Franklin/Bingham Farms Police Department
Highland Township (OCSO Substation)
Holly Village Police Department
Huntington Woods Police Department
Independence Township (OCSO Substation)
Keego Harbor Police Department
Lake Angelus Police Department
Lathrup Village Police Department
Lake Orion Village Police Department
Lyon Township (OCSO Substation)
Milford Police Department
Madison Heights Police Department
Northville Police Department
Novi Police Department
Oakland Community College
Oak Park Police Department
Oakland Township (OCSO Substation)
Oakland University Police Department
Orchard Lake Village Police Department
Orion Township (OCSO Substation)
Oxford Township (OCSO Substation)
Oxford Village Police Department
Records Unit (OCSO)
Pleasant Ridge Police Department
Rochester Police Department
Royal Oak Police Department
South Lyon Police Department
Southfield Police Department
Springfield Township (OCSO Substation)
Sylvan Lake Police Department
Troy Police Department
Walled Lake Police Department
Waterford Police Department
West Bloomfield Township Police Dept.
White Lake Police Department
Wixom Police Department
Wolverine Lake Village Police Department
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