MONROE — Green County Public Health along with Green County Human Services and the Green County Sheriff’s Department are launching the Protect Our Families campaign to remind community members who own guns, to lock and safely store their firearms. 

Firearms deaths have been increasing; from 2013 to 2022, firearm deaths in Wisconsin increased by 69%. Additionally, in 2022, firearms were the leading cause of death in children ages 1 through 17. When firearms are left unlocked, aren’t stored properly, or remain loaded when they’re stored, they pose a risk to people’s safety, especially for children and people who may be struggling with thoughts of suicide. 

“Many community members who own guns know the importance of safely handling a loaded gun. We want to remind gun owners how important it is to lock and safely store their guns, too.” Said RoAnn Warden, Health Officer at Green County Public Health. “By practicing firearm safety, you can help prevent suicides and injuries and protect our families.”

Firearm injuries and deaths are preventable. Use these recommendations for safely storing your firearm:

●  Store firearms unloaded

●  Store firearms in a secure location like a gun safe

●  Use a gun lock and store the gun’s lock key in a separate location

●  Remove ammunition before placing a firearm back in storage

●  Store ammunition away from the firearm

Free gun locks are now available in the public health vending machine outside the Green County Government Services Building (N3152 Wis. 81, Monroe). The vending machine is available 24/7 for anyone to access. Gun locks are also available at most local law enforcement offices, contact your local law enforcement agency to check their availability. 

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, is available. The National Suicide Hotline is available by calling or texting 988, no judgment, just support. To learn more about the hotline, visit their website: https://988lifeline.org/