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CLEARFIELD — Gun safety padlocks are available at police departments statewide, thanks to a program run through the Project Child Safe website Still, Davis County's SafeKids coordinator Priscilla Angulo says gun owners need to use more than locks and a safe to keep their kids out of harm's reach.
"Talk with your kids," Angulo said. "(Tell them) that guns are different from the ones that they see on TV or in video games. In real life, they can be really dangerous."
While it is still unclear what led up to the accidental shooting of Kaysville twelve-year-old Adelaide Clinger, gun safety experts say there are certain measures all gun owners with children should take. While padlocks can be effective, Angulo also recommends keeping the guns in a safe, as an added layer of protection.
2. ALWAYS keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot.
3. ALWAYS keep the gun unloaded until ready to use.
"Lock them up separately from the ammunition," Angulo said. "Also, put your keys and your combinations away so that kids don't know where they are."
The Roy Police Department is one of dozens of law enforcement agencies that keep free gun padlocks in stock. But Det. Matthew Gwynn warns they are not foolproof.
"What's important to know about these locks is they can be defeated," Gwynn said. "They are not meant to prevent someone from using a firearm. They are meant as a discouragement."
KSL has also partnered with the Utah Council for Crime Prevention to offer a limited number of free gun padlocks to the public, which can be requested here.
