HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 1999.08.19 - 25617Miscellaneous Resolution # 99 219
BY: Commissioner Ruel E. McPherson. District #25
RE: Firearm Safety Program
TO: Oakland County Board of Commissioners
Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen:
WHEREAS, incidents involving weapons and children are making headlines with alarming
frequency. Firearm safety is a community responsibility that must be shared by all, particularly with regard
to our children; and
WHEREAS, according to the American Firearms Council, Inc., nearly half of all U.S. households
have firearms. Unfortunately, many victims of unintentional shootings are children and young adults; and
WHEREAS, unintentional shootings are often referred to as firearm "accidents." This
characterization gives the impression that injuries occur by chance and cannot be foreseen or prevented; and
WHEREAS, public health research has replaced the term "accident" with the more accurate term of
"unintentional injury" which recognizes that most unintentional injuries are preventable through the
application of public health strategies including passive safety devices and public education; and
WHEREAS, from 1987 to 1996, nearly 2,200 American children under 14 years of age died from
such accidental or unintentional shootings which are oftentimes preventable (Violence Policy Center); and
WHEREAS, with increasing firearm ownership, it is of vital importance that gun safety continues to
be learned, taught and practiced. Gun owners must be encouraged to make gun safety a top priority within
their homes -- not only for the safety of their own children -- but for the children throughout the community;
and
WHEREAS, one effective method of preventing accidental injury by firearms is for responsible gun
owners to use a cablelock which reduces the risk that a young child or others will "accidentially" discharge
a weapon. Cableocks are simple, cable-style locks that work by blocking the working mechanisms within most
types of firearms. The cablelock may only be removed with a key.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Oakland County Board of Commissioners
does hereby create a Firearm Safety Program in conjunction with the Oakland County Sheriff and Oakland
County Health Division to educate parents and children about basic gun safety; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT in addition, the Oakland County Firearm Safety Program
will encourage responsible gun ownership by distributing firearm safety locks free of charge to residents of
Oakland County; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED THAT the Oakland County Board of Commissioners proposes that
the Oakland County Firearm Safety Program be funded from money seized from drug asset forfeitures which
will result in no additional cost to the taxpayers of Oakland County.
Mr. Chairperson, I move the adoption of the foregoing Resolution.
Ruel E. McPherson
District #25
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Resolution #99219 August 19,1999
The Chairperson referred the resolution to the Public Services Committee
and the General Government Committee. There were no objections.