Gun 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 shhot 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:
Safe2Help Illinois
Safe2Help Illinois is a statewide initiative that aims to prevent school violence before it happens by offering students a safe, confidential way in which to share information.
Safe2Help Illinois is available 24/7 for students to use a free app, text/phone, and website (
Safe2HelpIllinois.com) to share information on school safety issues in a confidential environment. Once vetted, the information provided will be shared with local district and school officials and/or local PSAP/9-1-1- call center, depending on the nature of the information shared. This program is not intended to suspend, expel, or punish students. Rather, the goal is to get students to “Seek Help Before Harm.”
This is a long-term initiative to change the school culture in Illinois. By providing recommended educational resources as early as preschool, we hope to remove the stigma associated with mental health issues, foster a culture of kindness, and instill important lessons such as the difference between telling and tattling, internet safety, and suicide prevention.
If you have questions or if your school is enrolling Safe2Help, please contact the Department of Public Health 708.358.5480
health@oak-park.us. The Village's goal is for all schools in Oak Park to be part of this program, and the Department of Public Health is available to assist in the process if needed.
Click here 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.
Additional Resources
- Safe2Help Illinois
- In the absence of a trusted adult, Safe2Help Illinois offers students a safe, confidential way in which to share information with the aim of preventing suicides, bullying, school violence or other threats to school safety.
- Safe2Help Illinois is a 24/7 program where students can use a free app, text/phone, and website (Safe2HelpIllinois.com) to share information on school safety issues in a confidential environment. Once vetted, the information provided will be shared with local district and school officials and/or local PSAP/9-1-1- call center, depending on the nature of the information shared.
- This program is not intended to suspend, expel, or punish students. Rather, the goal is to get students to “Seek Help Before Harm.”
- Everytown for Gun Safety
- Visit the Everytown for Gun Safety website for more education and resources on decreasing gun violence.
- CDC Fast Facts on Firearm Violence Prevention
- American Academy of Pediatrics - Safe storage of firearms video series
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs - Safe firearm storage for suicide prevention