Columbus, Ga. (July, 31, 2024) – Gunshot wounds are a top mechanism of injury for residents in Columbus, the state of Georgia and the nation. Although the reasons for these injuries vary, community-wide measures to reduce these injuries and deaths must continue.

Piedmont Columbus Regional Injury Prevention and Safe Kids Columbus: Firearm Safety Committee hosted a press conference to kick off a program designed to increase access of gun locks in the Columbus area. Columbus Mayor Skip Henderson along with representatives from the Columbus Police Department, Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office, Columbus Department of Fire & EMS, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and Piedmont Columbus Regional were in attendance.

A total of 900 gun locks will be divided among the five Columbus Police precincts, the Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office, the 15 Columbus Department of Fire & EMS stations as well as other participating agencies so they can make them available to the community free of charge. Distribution points will only ask for the recipient’s zip code when providing the free gun locks. Click here to view a list of distribution points.