"Lock It To Stop It" campaign prevents tragic headlines

CHARLOTTE, N.C.- In the emotionally charged and often volatile political debate over gun control, opposing sides can at least agree on one point-children need to be protected from themselves. For the past two years Charlotte Metro Credit Union, in partnership with the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office, has been selling gun locks in its "Lock It To Stop It" campaign to prevent children from being victims of gun accidents. "We pride ourselves on our family and community involvement and we're extremely fortunate that Sheriff Jim Pendegraph's office had started the Operation Gun Lock program," said Deborah R. McLean vice president of marketing. "Lock It To Stop It has been a great way for us to raise awareness." The $16 gun locks are sold wholesale for $5 and can be bought by anyone, not just members. Sheriff Pendegraph noted that CMCU's involvement has given the program more exposure and has doubled gun lock sales by removing the intimidation factor of walking into a sheriff's office. McLean said some gun carriers do not have permits, and fear some sort of punishment if they go to the sheriff's office to purchase a lock. The credit union obviously doesn't pose that threat. According to the National Safe Kids Campaign, over 1,500 kids a year, ages 14 or younger, are treated in emergency rooms for accidental firearm injuries. Over 200 children die every year from accidental shootings. "I tell people that children always know where the guns are hidden-always. It's not about gun control it's about protecting our children by locking an unsupervised gun," said McLean. McLean explained that because guns are forbidden children think guns are cool. Just recently, a local child carried a gun in his backpack on a school bus just to show it off to friends. Someone told the bus driver, who called it in on his cell phone, and the gun was taken away. The child didn't have any malicious plans to use the gun but accidents can happen, said McLean. McLean has heard only praise and thanks from the many people in the community. Last Christmas one member purchased 30 gunlocks to give as stocking stuffers to family members. CMCU typically sells 50 gun locks per month. During the month of April, North Carolina's Prevent Child Abuse Awareness Month, CMCU pushed the year round promotion a little harder with public service announcements, flyers, newsletters and buttons. CMCU sold over 100 gun locks that month. Since the "Lock It To Stop It" program began in 1998, well over 1,500 gun locks have been sold. All proceeds from the gun lock sales go back into a revolving fund at the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office to purchase more gun locks. -mbourjolly@cutimes.com