bg

SMVF Gun Locks and Safety Plans Program

Free Gun Locks
Safety Plans and Gun Locks for Veterans, Service Members, and their Families

Pickens County Veterans Affairs Office is offering free safety plans and gun locks to our veterans, service members, and their families (SMVF) as part of the County’s initiative to prevent suicides and through the support of the Columbia VA Health Care System. Increasing the time and distance between someone in a suicidal crisis and access to lethal means can reduce suicide risk and save lives. According to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs data, nearly 7 out of every 10 Veteran deaths by suicide are the result of firearm injuries. Gun locks and safety plans are valuable tools to keep people safe.

We know that our military population is well-versed in firearm safety from their years of service. Many veterans own guns and have them stored in their home. We support every citizen’s Second Amendment right and want to encourage responsible gun ownership. We hope to give veterans, service members, and their families helpful tools to keep them safe. The locks consist of a red cable that threads through the barrel or magazine of a gun. A key must be used to lock and unlock the firearm, increasing the time between a suicidal thought and the moment someone can pull the trigger. The locks have the veterans’ crisis hotline number printed on them and come packaged with an informational wallet card listing the warning signs of suicide and crisis phone line number, text number, and website for the confidential crisis chat.

If you are concerned about the wellbeing of yourself or a family member, please stop by the Pickens County Veterans Affairs office to receive a gun lock and an outline for a safety plan. You can also call the office at (864) 898-5926 to inquire about gun locks and safety plans. A gun lock can be mailed directly to a veteran or service member in need from the Columbia VA Suicide Prevention office when referred by the Pickens County VA Office. Gun Locks can also be picked up at the Pickens County Sheriff Office, Keowee Springs Fire Department, and Dacusville Fire Department.

Pickens County is grateful for your service. Now, we hope to support you by making these tools available to keep you and your family safe.



Click here to download a safety plan. 

Pick-up locations:
  • Pickens County Veterans Affairs Office at 222 McDaniel Ave., Pickens (Mon-Fri 8:00AM - 12:00PM; 1:00PM - 5:00PM)
  • Keowee Springs Fire Department at 159 Keowee Baptist Church Rd, Six Mile
  • Dacusville Fire Department at 2507 Earls Bridge Rd, Easley (Mon-Fri 7:00AM – 4:00PM)
Help is always available:
  • Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at (800) 273-TALK (8255).
  • Call the Veterans Crisis Line - (800) 273-TALK Press 1 or Text 838255.
  • Text "Hope4SC" to 741741.
  • SCDMH and DAODAS anonymous online self-check questionnaire: hope.connectsyou.org.



 
bottom