Free Gun Locks Offered In Coatesville On MLK Day, As Sales Soar

COATESVILLE, PA — Gun sales across Pennsylvania broke records in 2020 and community players want to make sure those weapons are not misused.

The Coatesville City Police Department will partner with CeaseFirePA Education Fund and the Episcopal of the Trinity Church to dispense free gun locks and promote responsible gun ownership in an event on Monday.

"According to reports, last year was a record-breaking year for gun sales in Pennsylvania," said Sgt. Rodger Ollis of the City of Coatesville Police Department.

"Our Commonwealth has already experienced 75 reported gun deaths and injuries in 2021, including incidents of mishandling firearms which tragically resulted in two deaths according to the Gun Violence Archive," Ollis said.

Pennsylvania's Instant Check System (PICS), performed for all new firearm purchases to determine whether someone can legally purchase or carry a firearm, experienced a sharp spike this year, according to State Police.

From Oct. 1 to Dec. 31, state police conducted 420,581 firearm background checks, officials announced. That's up dramatically from the 272,901 conducted in 2019 — a 47 percent increase.
As a result of the checks, 7,458 Pennsylvanians were denied the right to buy a gun. Of those, 1,317 were referred to state, federal, or local law enforcement and 52 people were arrested on outstanding warrants while they were making the firearm purchase.

The Coatesville community is responding with what they hope will be a deterrent to the misuse of guns. "We're trying to empower firearm owners to be responsible with their guns and protect themselves and their families from unintentional tragedies," said Max Milkman, Lead Organizer for CeaseFirePA.

"We appreciate the opportunity to help reduce the potential of accidental death and injury by providing locks and are pleased to make our community aware that safety measures are vitally important in regard to responsible gun ownership” Olllis added.

The gun locks will be provided free by CeaseFirePA, with no questions asked, in an effort to promote firearm owners to actively take steps to reduce unintentional shootings, homicides, and suicides, according to Milkman.

Free gun locks will be handed out at the Episcopal of the Trinity Church, 323 Lincoln Highway East, Coatesville, from noon to 2 p.m. on Jan. 18.

Law enforcement agencies and gun safety advocates are working to educate gun owners, especially new ones who have not had access to firearm training because of COVID-19 restrictions, on how to properly store their firearms to prevent unintentional injuries and provide gun lock devices.

Doug Gross contributed to this report.

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