Gun Locks Available at UNCOM Locations

The United Neighborhood Centers of Milwaukee (UNCOM) is a unique resource collaborative dedicated to strengthening the lives of Milwaukee’s urban families. We work with neighborhood organizations to provide services and create opportunities that empower individuals and build strong interdependent communities. This collaboration of eight tightly affiliated neighborhood centers empowers UNCOM to combine its forces, to advocate for systematic change, serve as a trusted communication conduit for community residents, and build cases for strategic government and private investments in programs and institutions that help build strong and healthy families, accelerate prosperity, and make our city better for all residents.

Of all ages, 321 people are shot daily, with 111 dying and 91 shot unintentionally. 22 children and teens are shot in the United States daily, and among these, 5 die from gun violence and 8 are unintentionally shot from a misused gun stored in a home. Each year, this amounts to almost 8,000 children shot, 1,600 deaths, and almost 3,000 unintentional shots. According to American Academy of Pediatrics (AAPP), an estimated 4.6 million kids live with unlocked, loaded guns. Unintentional shootings happen to children of all ages, but the risk of accidental death is 4 times higher in homes with guns.

“At UNCOM, we are dedicated to reducing gun violence and creating safe spaces in our community,” said Renée Logee, UNCOM Executive Director. “It is important to have locks readily available to decrease unintentional shootings. Thus, we offer Gun Locks at all UNCOM centers and encourage families to take use of them. UNCOM is proud to offer this service in line with the Safer City Milwaukee, which is sponsored by the Forest County Potawatomi Foundation, to focus on violence reduction, helping us achieve our mission of improving the quality of life for Milwaukee’s families by making our city safer.” The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) – Pediatrics estimates if 1/2 of the households with children that contain at least one unlocked gun switched to locking their guns, 1/3 of youth gun suicides and unintentional death could be prevented.

“We all have a responsibility to prevent senseless gun deaths and injuries that are impacting some of our youngest residents. We are grateful for our partnership with UNCOM because far too often, we are seeing deadly consequences when children and teens get their hands on firearms,” Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman said. “I ask all gun owners to safely store their guns and keep them out of the hands of children. Their lives are at stake.”

UNCOM is also proud to stand with our partners at the City of Milwaukee Mayor’s Office, the Office of Violence Prevention, the Milwaukee Police Department, the Milwaukee Fire Department and many community members to distribute gun locks across the city.

Gun locks will be distributed at the following UNCOM Locations:

United Neighborhood Center of Milwaukee (UNCOM) home office – 1609 W. North Avenue
Wednesdays 9am – 1pm and as needed.
http://uncom-milw.org

City on a Hill – 2224 W. Kilbourn Avenue
At Health Outreach events the second Saturday of each month. Next one is, Saturday, July 8, 2023, from 12-2 pm.
http://cityonahillmke.org

COA Youth and Family Centers – 909 E. Garfield Avenue, 2320 W. Burleigh Street
As requested, and at their Food Pantry: Wednesdays 3-6 pm and Saturdays 9am-12pm.
https://www.coa-yfc.org/

Journey House – 2110 W. Scott Street
As requested.
http://www.journeyhouse.org/

Milwaukee Christian Center – 807 S. 14th Street
At their food pantry, Monday-Thursday 1-3pm.
https://mccwi.org

Neighborhood House of Milwaukee – 2819 W. Richardson Place, 53208
At their food pantry on Wednesdays 12-2pm and Thursdays 4-6pm plus at daily pick up, 7:30-9:30am and 3-7pm.
https://neighborhoodhousemke.org/

Neu-Life Community Development – 2014 W. North Avenue, 53205
As requested.
https://www.neu-life.org/

Northcott Neighborhood House – 2460 N. 6th Street
As requested.
https://northcotthouse.org/

Silver Spring Neighborhood Center – 5460 N 64th Street, 53218
As requested, and at their Food Pantry: Mondays and Wednesdays from 11am-2 pm.
https://www.ssnc-milw.org/

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.