Kennedy Krieger giving out free gun locks in safe storage campaign
Kennedy Krieger Institute has begun distributing free gun locks to patients, families, staff, and community members who request them as part of a campaign to protect children through safe gun storage practices.
Since 2021, gun violence has been the number one cause of death for children in the United States, and proper gun storage can significantly reduce pediatric injuries and deaths. Safe storage laws make a measurable difference. Duke University research from 2024 shows that states with such laws report lower rates of pediatric gun suicides.
"At Kennedy Krieger, we treat many patients with rare, neurological conditions for which there is no cure. But in the case of gun deaths and injuries, there are steps we know can help," said Michelle Melicosta, MD, MPH MSc, associate chief medical officer at Kennedy Krieger. "We must keep guns out of the hands of children. That means if we have a gun in our homes, we must practice safe storage at all times."
Kennedy Krieger received a grant from the Governor's Office of Crime Prevention and Policy to purchase 800 locks and distribute them. People who would like a free gun lock can go to the security desks at one of the Institute's medical buildings at 707, 716, and 801 N. Broadway, 1741 Ashland Ave., and at Kennedy Krieger School's Fairmount Campus located at 1750 E. Fairmount Ave.
The request for and receipt of the free gun locks will be anonymous transactions. Names will not be recorded, though staff will keep track of the number of locks distributed. The campaign will continue for as long as supplies last.
"Gun owners may be reluctant to discuss this with a health care provider," Dr. Melicosta said. "What we want to focus on is storing that gun safely and doing what we can to keep the kids in our lives as safe as possible."
Sales of firearms in the United States increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. The American Academy of Pediatrics estimates now that there are 30 million children in the nation who live in a household with a purchased firearm. Kennedy Krieger clinicians have attested to seeing more patients with gun-related injuries, motivating them to consider ways to reduce risk of gun violence for children.
The result is the free gun lock distribution campaign, initiated by Dr. Melicosta, staff from the Child Life/Therapeutic Recreation Department , Patient and Family Experience, Social Work, the International Center for Spinal Cord Injury , and nurses from the Institute's Specialized Health Needs Interagency Collaboration .
