Title
Special recognition of September 2026 as Safe Gun Storage Month in Lake County.
Body
SPECIAL RECOGNITION
WHEREAS, safe gun storage is an important part of public safety, and responsible firearm owners can help protect children, families, and communities by preventing unauthorized access to firearms; and
WHEREAS, 10,383 firearms were reported missing, lost, or stolen by gun owners in 2025; and
WHEREAS, 80% of individuals who carried out K-12 mass shootings stole the firearm used in the shooting from a family member; and
WHEREAS, firearm-related injuries have been the leading cause of death among children and teens ages 1 to 19 since 2020, surpassing motor vehicle crashes and other leading causes of death; and
WHEREAS, guns were used in approximately 55% of suicides in the United States in 2022, and a study investigating firearm suicide and gun ownership found that among youth ages 18 and under, 79% used a firearm belonging to a family member; and
WHEREAS, unintentional firearm deaths among children are often caused by guns that were stored loaded and unlocked, with 74% stored loaded and 76% stored unlocked; and
WHEREAS, the Safe Gun Storage Act went into effect in Illinois on January 1, 2026, requiring that firearms be stored in a locked container or secured with a locking device whenever they could be accessed by a minor, at-risk person, or prohibited person, and the law applies wherever a firearm is stored, including a vehicle; and
WHEREAS, keeping firearms and ammunition locked, unloaded and securely stored separately is a contributing factor to a lower risk of children and teens hurting themselves and others with firearms, as well as firearm suicides in homes with guns; and
WHEREAS, the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office, through the Gun Violence Prevention Initiative, provides free firearm locks to residents.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RECOGNIZED, by this County Board of Lake County, Illinois, that September 2026 is Safe Gun Storage Month; and
BE IT FURTHER RECOGNIZED, that residents, educators, physicians, elected officials, parents, caregivers, and firearm owners are encouraged to learn about safe firearm storage practices and the options available to limit access to firearms and help protect our children, families, schools, and communities.
DATED at Waukegan, Illinois, on September 8, 2026.