You’ve probably heard the story of the child tossing a starfish back into the ocean. When told it wouldn’t make a difference, the child replied, “it made a difference to that one.” I think about this a lot in our work. One person trained. One gun lock distributed. One hearing on gun safety. These moments may seem small in the grand scheme of things, but they matter deeply for each life that these actions save. And over time, small actions add up to big change.
Last year, we kicked off our gun lock distribution work in Jefferson, Bullitt, and Hardin Counties with a federal grant that helped us purchase 3,000 locks to distribute at local events and trainings. This year, we’re taking our efforts a step further by partnering with long-term distribution sites. These trusted partners will receive a steady supply of our gun safety kits, along with the tools and support they need to effectively promote their role as official gun lock distribution sites for Whitney/Strong.
Each kit includes a gun lock, safe storage information, and mental health resources, making safe firearm storage more accessible to the communities that we serve.
We’ve also been out in the community, distributing gun safety kits at local Save A Life events—and this part is my personal favorite. It’s where I get to connect, listen, and hear the heartfelt stories behind why someone chooses to take a gun lock home. It’s a parent thinking about the toddler who’s just started walking. A grandparent who watches their grandkids on the weekends. A neighbor picking one up for a friend who just brought a new baby home. Again and again, it comes back to love. To protection. To that instinct we all have to keep our children safe. Every conversation is a reminder that this work isn’t just about policy or kits—it’s about people. It’s about our kids. And it’s about doing everything we can to make sure they grow up safe, healthy, and surrounded by a community that puts their safety first.
For the first time in recent history, firearms have become the leading cause of death for children and teens in the U.S., surpassing car accidents for those ages 1 to 17. This is not a statistic we can ignore—it’s a wake-up call. A recent study published in JAMA Pediatrics estimates that over 7,000 more children died from gun-related injuries in the 12 years following a 2010 Supreme Court ruling that allowed states greater freedom to set their own gun laws. States with more permissive gun laws saw higher increases of these tragic deaths (Kokotek, 2025).
We also know from research that if just 20% more gun owners with children in the home securely stored their firearms, we could prevent up to one-third of youth suicides and accidental gun deaths (Monuteaux et al., 2019). That’s a simple, powerful step—one that could save thousands of young lives. As a parent, this hits close to home. None of us want our child to be part of this heartbreaking statistic. Every life lost is not just a number—it’s a person, a family, a future stolen too soon.
So, reaching people one gun lock at a time might feel slow, but each lock makes a difference. With this effort alone, 3,000 guns will be stored more safely. We may never know exactly how many lives are saved, but we know that safer storage leads to safer communities. And as Whitney/Strong continues to grow, our impact grows with it. One person, one lock, one action at a time. It makes a difference and helps save a life.
Megan Cole
Save A Life Program Director