Library to Distribute Gun Safety Locks at All Branches

June is National Gun Violence Awareness Month and the library is partnering with the Baltimore County Department of Health to distribute gun safety locks at all 18 open branches starting Monday, June 2. County residents who are 18 years old and up can receive the locks at our service desks, while supplies last. No proof of residency is required.

"As a community connector, Baltimore County Public Library is a trusted institution where people from all walks of life are welcomed and included, making us an ideal location to distribute free gun safety locks," said Sonia Alcántara-Antoine, Baltimore County Public Library's CEO. "We are proud to offer this critical resource and want to thank Baltimore County Department of Health’s Bureau of Behavioral Health (BBH) for its partnership in creating a safer Baltimore County."

Safe storage helps create time and space between firearms and individuals suffering from a crisis and considering harm to themselves or others. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, between 2020 and 2024 firearms were used in 47 percent of suicide deaths in the County. Thanks to a local partnership through the Baltimore County Veteran Suicide Prevention Coalition, firearm locks have been distributed by the Bureau of Behavioral Health since 2024 to support suicide prevention efforts.

“We don’t often get to hear what happens after we distribute the locks,” said Dr. Lucy E. Wilson, the County's Health Officer. “But when we do, it reinforces the need for these types of initiatives and highlights the positive impact programs like this one can have."

The following story was shared by a parent with BBH.

“I came home from work and found my child at the front door saying they needed help. I had never seen [them] this upset before and they said a lot of things I am still trying to process. But the one thing [they] said was the gun lock is what stopped them.”

In addition to receiving a gun lock, customers will receive instructions on how to use the gun lock, materials with information about safe gun storage, suicide prevention resources and other valuable information.

If you are experiencing a medical emergency or need immediate assistance for a mental health emergency, call 911. If you want to have support in navigating difficult emotional experiences, including grief or thoughts of self-harm, call or text 988 for support 24/7.

Here to Help

If you are grappling with mental health problems, our Social Workers in the Library can point you to helpful resources. They have drop-in hours and appointments available at our Randallstown and Woodlawn branches. We also have two Meet the Social Worker programs in June where you can learn about the services they provide.