Firearm Safety
Gun owners can make their homes and communities safer by storing guns securely.
Best practices for safe storage include storing guns unloaded, locked, and separate from ammunition.
Storing firearms securely protects children and adults by preventing unintentional shootings, gun suicides, and gun theft. Safe gun storage and gun safety are issues that impact the entire community. Both play a crucial role in preventing shootings and deaths.
Every year in the United States, 350 children under the age of 18 gain access to a firearm and unintentionally shoot themselves or someone else. More than 700 children in America die by gun suicide each year.
The Village's Public Health Department and Police Department remind residents that safe storage is a simple action a gun owner can take to reduce access to guns among young people, keeping children and families in our community safe.
Oak Park's Safe Storage Ordinance
In 2023, the Village Board passed an ordinance addressing the safe storage of firearms that states:
- All firearms within the Village of Oak Park must be secured by a locking device.
- Only the person authorized to carry or control the firearm may know the combination or the location of the key of the locking device.
- A firearm unattended in a vehicle within plain view is not considered secure.
For more information on the ordinance, click here.
Free Gun Locks
Free gun locks are available from the Village and its community partners. Pick up a free gun lock at the following locations:
- Village Hall, 123 Madison St.
- Community Mental Health Board, 229 Madison St. (located inside the Park District of Oak Park's Community Recreation Center)
- Oak Park Township, 105 S. Oak Park Ave.
If you need a gun lock, please contact the Department of Public Health or Police Department at any time:
Safe Storage Resource Flyer
Firearms Restraining Order
A firearms restraining order is a legal process that allows a family or household member, or a law enforcement officer, to petition a court to temporarily prohibit a person from possessing or purchasing firearms when there is evidence that the person poses a significant risk of causing harm to themselves or others. If granted, the court can require the individual to surrender firearms and temporarily suspend their Firearm Owner’s Identification (FOID) and/or Concealed Carry License (CCL) privileges. FROs are intended as a preventive measure and do not require the person to have committed a crime. "Hit pause with an FRO."
Here are some resources to learn more:
Be SMART Campaign
The Be SMART campaign is a program of the Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund.
SMART is an acronym for: Secure-Model-Ask-Recognize-Tell.
The Campaign promotes responsible gun ownership by providing a framework that helps to prevent children from accessing guns. The Village uses the Be SMART campaign to develop education and messaging for parents and caregivers which promotes secure firearm storage, keeps families safe, and prevents tragedies.
If you would like to learn more about responsible gun ownership, visit the Be SMART Campaign website.