In partnership with the United Church of Christ (UCC), Heart of Longmont will participate in two upcoming safe gun events.

The first one on October 29 is a gun buy back and community celebration. Gun owners can safely dispose of guns and receive gift cards in exchange. Volunteers are needed from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM to receive guns that owners will turn in.

The guns will be repurposed into garden tools by RAW tools. Live demonstrations will give people the opportunity to see this process.

The event takes place in the UCC parking lot; 1500 9th Avenue from 10 AM to 12PM. Volunteer to help here.

The second event takes place on Friday, November 11th. Following the Veteran’s Day parade from 11:30 to 1:30 is the gun safe giveaway. The giveaway will take place in Roosevelt Park between the Senior Center and the Recreation Center. A free handgun safe will be given away to individuals who come to the event. Sign up to volunteer here.

Gun safes do save lives.

“US veterans die by suicide at a higher rate than that of the civilian population and are more likely to use a firearm as their method. Increasing the time and distance between someone in a suicidal crisis and access to lethal means can reduce suicide risk and save lives.” [Cited from the Roadmap to Empower Veterans and End the National Tragedy of Suicide and the Veterans Administration.]