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NC Governor delivers gun locks to Elizabeth City Police. Here's how to get one
ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. (WAVY) — In his first visit to Northeast North Carolina since being elected the state's 76th Governor, Josh Stein delivered a box of gun locks to local police as part of N.C. S.A.F.E. Week of Action.
The week long campaign focuses on safe gun ownership and management, to try and prevent tragedies that Stein, (D-N.C.), said have become far too common.
'Firearms are the leading cause of death of our children age 1 to 17,' Stein said. 'It's not car accidents, it's gun violence. And from 2019 to 2021, the rate of firearm deaths among children more than doubled.'
Elizabeth City looks for solutions to gun violence
Specifically, the governor was focusing on accidental deaths that have occurred when guns found their way into the hands of children.
Dr. Eric Toschlog, chief trauma surgeon for ECU Health, named several examples of cases he had experiences with.
'14-year-old male gunshot wound to the brain, inflicted by his brother with a unsafely stored weapon. Five-year-old male gunshot wound to the brain by his brother, unsecured weapon. 13-year-old female gun shot wound to the arm at a family party, unsecured weapon. 18-month-old male, gunshot wound to the heart by family member cleaning gun,' Toschlog said. 'Unfortunately I could consume the remainder of our time with more cases.'
Fon Dockery however knows one of the cases all too well. His daughter, Jenesis Dockery, was eight when she was shot and killed in 2023 while at a babysitter's house in Fayetteville.
'The adults responsible for securing these firearms for being present and having these conversations and ensuring that in a house filled with children that any firearm here is secure, effective and that just wasn't done,' Dockery said. 'We we absolutely decided as a family that for the life of Jenesis in the light that she brought to this world. This is a preventable issue and we're going to advocate and we're going to push all across the state of North Carolina all the way to Washington, DC. That we can change the problem that we have in our country and secure our firearms.'
FBI data says that the rate of gun theft from vehicles is three times as high as it was 10 years ago. To help reduce gun violence and needless tragedies, Governor Stein proposed more than $2.2 million for safe storage in his .
Recently appointed Elizabeth City Police Chief Eddie Graham Jr, accepted a box of gun locks from Stein.
The locks use a cable threaded through the barrel or action to prevent someone else from firing the gun.
'We must use every tool at our disposal to keep children safe and promote responsible gun ownership – we need folks locking up their guns, using a gun safe, and talking about the risks of loose firearms,' Stein said.
The gun locks are free and anyone looking to obtain one can contact your local police department of sheriff's office, according to the governors office.
You can also visit
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