Jackson Offering Free Locks For Gun Safety

The Jackson County Sheriff’s Department giving out free gunlocks to the public.

Sheriff’s Department Captain Dennis Thrasher said the Tennessee Department of Homeland Security has provided the Sheriff’s Department with gun locks to promote firearm safety.

“You can never be too careful,” Thrasher said. “You know one incident is too many, so this obviously provides a whole lot more protection and comfort as far as those firearms being secured.”

Thrasher said the lock goes through the firearm barrel and chamber which makes it impossible to fire unless taken off with a key. Thrasher said Jackson County has not had many cases in recent years where poor firearm security led to an incident but can never go wrong with making efforts to make sure it doesn’t happen.

“The program I think is really beneficial to people to help secure firearms,” Thrasher said. “And to ensure that the wrong person doesn’t get ahold of them and that children can get a hold of them.”

Thrasher said the Sheriff’s Department has offered gun locks in years past. Thrasher said promoting firearm safety is extremely important.

“The gun locks is one step in safety that I strongly believe in,” Thrasher said. “But also we need to be aware of gun safety classes out there. There are a lot of different things that we can do to help make it a little safer with our firearms.”

Thrasher said all people have to do is stop by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department and obtain as many gun locks as they need for their firearms at home. The Sheriff’s Department is open Monday through Friday 8am to 4pm.