King County public health officials hope homes in the area will be a little safer after the county gave away thousands of firearm lockboxes.
Gun owners were invited to Lumen Field last week to get free lockboxes and learn more about safe gun storage.
One gun owner at the event, Dustin, said he has a rifle case at home, but he sometimes has a pistol out and unsecured. Now, he’ll store that in his new lockbox, safe from his 11- and 14-year-old daughters.
“Or maybe one of their friends that she might bring over that are up to no good — like one of the boys maybe,” Dustin said. “I’ve gotta worry about [that] now.”
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Dustin and other gun owners at the event declined to give their last names when discussing how they store their guns and who has access to them.
The goal of the event was not just to give away 3,000 lockboxes but also to start a conversation about safe storage. Public Health – Seattle and King County encouraged people who own guns to always lock up their weapons, so they don’t get accidentally discharged or stolen and misused.