Sheriff stresses gun safety

In the wake of last week’s Connecticut school shooting, Flathead County Sheriff Chuck Curry is reminding people about gun safety.

Specifically, Curry asks people to review gun safety in their homes, including whether they have gun safes, whether they are kept locked and if weapons are out of reach of those unfamiliar with them.

“In the recent shooting in Connecticut, the guns were not secured in homes,” Curry said. “The shooter gained access to a semi-automatic AR-15, a Glock 10-millimeter and a Sig Sauer 9-millimeter from his mother. They were not in a safe, they were not hidden, and they did not have a lock on them.”

By law, every gun sold by a licensed dealer must come with a gun lock, but not every firearm is purchased new and many have been owned by people since before that law went into effect. For those who have firearms but no locks, Curry offers a solution.

“We have offered gun locks in partnership with Flathead City-County Health for some time, however this seemed like a good opportunity to offer the reminder to people, especially based upon the events in the Connecticut case,” Curry said.

The free Master Lock gun lock kits are provided by the Suicide Prevention Coalition through the health department. They can be picked up at the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office on the first floor of the Justice Center at 920 S. Main St. in Kalispell, or at the health department, located on the first floor at 1035 First Ave. W. in Kalispell.

Curry also noted that when the Sheriff’s Office processes concealed weapons permit applications each Wednesday, there normally are 20 new applications. This Wednesday, the office received 80.

Curry said deputies were at schools Friday to ease concerns about rumors regarding violence or the end of the Mayan calendar.

“They’re out at all of the rural schools in the county, Bigfork High School, the ones outside the city,” he said. “We have just been providing some extra security.”

Within city limits, local police departments provided the same service with an increased presence at schools.

“Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with all the families and loved ones affected by the recent tragedies,” Curry said.