APD VIN Etching, Project ChildSafe Gun Lock Distribution, and Suicide Awareness Drive-Thru Event

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Etching you VIN on your vehicle is one of the best ways to help avoid car theft. The Albuquerque Police Department is hosting this VIN Etching for FREE!

Albuquerque City Councilor Brook Bassan, The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), and representatives from Albuquerque Public Schools (APS) and local law enforcement will host this drive-through event to provide free resources on firearm safety and suicide prevention for parents and gun owners.

The event is part of a larger “Project ChildSafe Albuquerque” initiative to help prevent firearm accidents, thefts and misuse, including suicide. Attention on teen mental health and suicide prevention has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly as schools remain closed and young people continue to face separation from peers, increased feelings of isolation and other stressors. These events are meant to equip parents with resources and tips to have a conversation about mental health with their children and take steps to secure firearms and other potential lethal means. The socially-distanced event will provide free gun locks and educational materials to gun owners to encourage safe, responsible firearm storage in the home.

Unsecured guns can pose an accident risk to children and create opportunities for theft and misuse, including attempts at self-harm. Keeping guns out of the wrong hands can be accomplished when gun owners put safeguards in place appropriate to their home and family circumstances. Proper storage can help prevent guns from being stolen and used by criminals, and provide that vital “pause” that can mean the difference between life and death for people in crisis and contemplating suicide.