Office of Medical Communications

Rebecca Bell, M.D., M.P.H., associate professor of pediatrics and president of the Vermont Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics

(APRIL 30, 2024) Rebecca Bell, M.D., M.P.H., associate professor of pediatrics and president of the Vermont Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, commented to NBC5 for a story about Vermont’s free gun lock program.

Law enforcement and health advocates in our region have been doing all they can to promote safe gun ownership through programs like GunSafe VT. While some firearms stores and police departments continue to offer safe gun storage options, other locations are handing out free gun locks. Vermont received 5,000 free gun locks, available at libraries and sheriff’s departments across the state, and the program will continue with 5,000 additional gun locks donated by Project Childsafe.

“The reason why we [in Vermont] have a higher than the national average suicide death rate is because of the accessibility of firearms,” said Bell, who is a doctor in the pediatric intensive care unit at UVM Children’s Hospital. “In Vermont, firearms are the most common method used in suicide deaths, and they’re more common than any other method combined.”

Suicide, homicide, domestic abuse, other violent crimes, pediatric firearm incidents—safe gun storage is the logical first step in preventing these tragedies.

The Fletcher Free Library in Burlington is one of several locations that have gun locks available.