Warren County school partners with businesses to distribute gun locks

Wayne Local Schools has partnered with three community businesses to bring free gun locks to Waynesville.

Community members can get free gun locks from B&B Carryout at 2028 E. State Route 73, Waynesville Pharmacy at 415 S. Main St., and Pat’s Place at 223 N. Main St. while supplies last, said Kelly Miller, director of communications for Wayne Local Schools and executive director for the Waynesville Area Chamber of Commerce.

“We just think it is really important to make sure guns are not available to young children,” Miller said. “This is not about taking the guns away, this is about gun safety.”

Along with the school district, the Waynesville Area Chamber of Commerce, the Village of Waynesville, Wayne Township and Mary L. Cook Public Library have endorsed the project.

Tony Garafolo, supervisor at B&B Carryout, said an anonymous community member bought a large amount of gun locks and donated them to the school.

Wayne Local Schools’ Resource Officer Shannon Mermann was at the Spartan home football on Friday evening providing free gun locks and discussing gun safety. The gun locks left over from the football game are to be split up and given to the three businesses to distribute.

“This is a good way to discuss gun safety,” Garafolo said. “If this could prevent one shooting, one gun falling into the wrong hands.”

Garafolo said anyone is welcome to come a get a gun lock, not just Waynesville residents.

“If they think it would help, anyone is welcome to take one,” Garafolo said.

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