PHOTO PROVIDED From left to right, Commissioner Amber Concepcion, Commissioner Chair Mark Higgins, Anne Ard, Josh Wretzel and Commissioner Steve Dershem pose for the proclamation of “Safe and Secure Firearm Storage” in Centre County.

BELLEFONTE — The Centre County Board of Commissioners this week issued a proclamation supporting local and national efforts to promote safe gun storage and reduce preventable gun violence.

“When we speak of preventable gun violence, we think of the children and adolescents who died last year from unintentional firearm injuries,” said Josh Wretzel of Centre County Interfaith Coalition for Gun Safety. “We think of the high rate of suicides by gun violence in rural communities like ours, and how proper storage and security promises to lower that rate considerably. We think of victims of gun deaths by domestic violence and how proper security measures can keep firearms out of the hands of those who abuse their partner.”

Research shows that safe storage practices are associated with significantly lower risks of both unintentional and self-inflicted firearm injuries — by 85% and 78% respectively.

“We know there are almost 5 million American children who live in homes with a loaded and unlocked firearm. We know that firearm deaths are the leading cause of death for children and teens,” said Anne Ard of Center County Interfaith Coalition for Gun Safety. “We know that if firearms are stored safely, it reduces the risk and possibility of lethal attempts at suicide.”

National organizations including the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, National Shooting Sports Foundation and American Academy of Pediatrics have all promoted safe storage and suicide prevention education.

Locally, Centre County has implemented several gun safety initiatives. The Jana Marie Foundation addresses mental well-being and conversations around lethal means safety. The Centre County Interfaith Coalition for Gun Safety promotes public dialogue about responsible firearm storage. Meanwhile, local law enforcement agencies — including the Centre County Sheriff’s Office and police departments in Bellefonte, Ferguson Township, Patton Township, Spring Township and State College — participate in Project ChildSafe, a national program that distributes free firearm safety kits. Project ChildSafe is the largest and most comprehensive gun safety education program in the U.S.

The Board of Commissioners urged the community to take part in making safer spaces for children and other Centre County residents by learning about safe gun storage, especially in spaces where people may be at risk of self-harm.

“There is a drastic increased risk of successful suicide attempts in homes with unlocked firearms compared to homes with secured firearms,” said Commissioner Chair Mark Higgins. “We have a lot of people who hunt for sport, do target shooting. Guns can be a great way for people to bond and build intergenerational relations. But still, these guns need to be locked up and stored safely.”

Commissioner Steve Dershem echoed Higgins’ sentiment, adding, “The smartest thing that needs to be done is making sure folks who are handling guns are properly trained.”

In other news, the board also approved a 911 system upgrade aimed at improving emergency radio communications in eastern Miles Township.

The commissioners voted to contract with the GPD Group for a feasibility study to assess load requirements for a 911 tower in Union County. The study will help determine what additional equipment can be safely added to enhance the tower’s performance.

The vote follows last week’s approval of a separate contract to replace the outdated 911 street addressing database. The updated system will include enhanced data fields, a redesigned user interface for dispatchers and improved reporting for address management.

Together, the two 911 upgrades total just under $14,000.