Linn County Public Health is working with the Cedar Rapids Police Department and Project ChildSafe to offer free gun locks. The locks are available through harm reduction vending machines in Linn County. This effort expands a program started in June 2024 by the Substance Misuse Committee. That program first provided free Naloxone and other harm reduction supplies to address drug overdoses and sexually transmitted infections.
The new gun lock distribution aims to reduce gun violence and firearm accidents. From 2020 to 2024, Cedar Rapids reported 34 gun-related deaths and 144 injuries. Project ChildSafe donated the gun locks. They are now available in six vending machines at sites such as the Linn County Mental Health Access Center and public libraries. The program…..