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Park County LAC plans May outreach, explores biometric gun-lock distribution
Summary
At its March meeting the Park County Local Advisory Council discussed outreach for Mental Health Awareness Month in May, including tabletop QR cards, lamp-post signs for future years and partnering with local retailers to distribute biometric trigger gun locks if funding is secured.
The Park County Local Advisory Council discussed plans for Mental Health Awareness Month in May and options to distribute biometric trigger gun locks through local retailers and events.
Council members and volunteers described talks with local businesses — Murdoch's and Yellowstone Sporting Goods — that said they would display flyers or QR codes and distribute locks if they did not have to purchase them. Julie, a council member who visited the stores, said the locks the retailers liked are biometric trigger locks she found online, priced roughly $37.99 to $45.
The discussion centered on logistics and messaging. Participants raised the cost of the preferred biometric locks and suggested seeking bulk or nonprofit pricing, pooling small contributions from several local partners, or asking retailers to distribute locks gratis if the locks are supplied by the LAC. "They would be willing to give them out as long as they did not have to purchase them," Julie said of Murdoch's and Yellowstone Sporting Goods.
Speakers recommended placing distribution sites beyond gun shops to reduce stigma and reach more people: VFW posts, Legion events, National Night Out, gun club gatherings and gun shows were suggested. Several members said that messages delivered by retired or active military or law enforcement may be better received than a direct government message. "People like certain spokespersons in this arena — retired military, active military, or law enforcement," Laurel, health department staff, said.
The group also discussed printed tabletop outreach materials and QR codes linking to the Park County LAC landing page. Members noted the LAC already has tabletop assets that point to the county LAC page and that updating the page would avoid reprinting. One member said the existing tabletop pieces do not include a year so they can be reused.
No formal motion or vote was taken on purchasing locks or printing materials. Council members volunteered to research bulk pricing, contact retailers about cost and distribution logistics, and check whether local nonprofits or businesses would contribute funds. The group set an informal target of assembling materials and partners in time for May but acknowledged the timeframe is short.
Community partners named during the discussion included Murdoch's, Yellowstone Sporting Goods, TimberTrails (vendor contact), the VFW and Livingston Healthcare. The council also noted the 988 crisis number should be promoted on materials because it now allows texting.
The discussion closed with members agreeing to continue planning by email and to revisit progress at the next LAC meeting.
