Missoula High Schools Announce Free Safe Firearm Storage Campaign

Missoula, MT ( KGVO-AM News ) - Starting Monday, September 23, Missoula County Public Schools are launching the Safe Firearms Storage Campaign to help school families safely and securely store their firearms at home.

I spoke to MCPS Communications Director Tyler Christensen on Friday about the program that kicks off Monday.

MCPS Will Give Out Free Trigger and Cable Locks for Firearms

"We're partnering with Project Tomorrow Montana, Safe Kids Missoula, led by Community Health Alliance, Be Smart Montana, United Way, Safer Communities Montana, Montana VA Healthcare, the Missoula Health Department, and special thanks to Cabela's for supporting this effort," began Christensen. "We are all working together to reduce access to lethal means of self harm for youth."

Christensen said MCPS and these agencies acknowledge the dangers that unsecured firearms can pose in a home.

Christensen said the Youth Suicide Rate is Much Higher in Montana

"Here in Montana the youth suicide rate is much, much higher than the national rate, and studies have shown that the risk of suicide is much higher in homes with guns than those without," she said. "What our partners are trying to do is to pursue a teen suicide prevention initiative, and we're trying to do this by increasing education and increasing access to safe firearm storage."

Christensen said many local agencies have come together to make this safety campaign possible.

"Our partners have secured some grants and some donations, and the result is that our high schools are able to give out for free trigger and cable locks for those who would like to come in and have one or two for however many firearms you may have in your home," she said.

Parents Can Also Register to Win a Biometric Gun Safe

She said families with firearms can also register for a special prize that will make firearms even safer for their homes.

"Starting Monday, you can go to Big Sky, Sentinel or Hellgate High School," she said. "Folks who live out in Seeley Lake can stop by Seeley Lake High School and even Willard (Alternative High School) will have a limited number of trigger or cable locks. As an added bonus, they have the opportunity to enter a drawing to win a (Biometric) gun safe so they could also take home with them and keep their firearms in there, if they like".

READ MORE: Governor Calls for Cell Phone Free Schools, Missoula Responds

The free trigger and cable locks will be available only to school parents starting Monday, September 23 and will continue until they run out.

One important note; MCPS Communications Specialist Tyler Christensen is stepping down from her position on Friday, September 20 to pursue a new opportunity at the University of Montana. Tyler has been a delight to work with and we certainly wish her well in her new endeavor.