Orange County Supervisor announces free gun‑lock program; police demonstrate safe use

Orange County Supervisor Doug Chaffee announced the launch of an OC Free Gun Lock program that will provide free gun locks to any Orange County resident who requests one, directing people to d4.ocgov.com/freegunlocks. Chaffee said the program grew out of previous gun buyback events and a desire to reduce unauthorized access to firearms.

The program is timed to complement previous county gun‑buyback efforts, which Chaffee said removed firearms from circulation. “We successfully held 2 gun buyback events in partnership with 7 local enforcement agencies resulting in the removal of 7 57 firearms including 50 53 rapid fire assault weapons from our streets,” Chaffee said in the presentation. (Transcript numbers are recorded as spoken and appear garbled in the record.) Chaffee said about 10,000 gun locks are currently in storage ready to be distributed.

Lieutenant Haddad of the Brea Police Department demonstrated how to secure a semiautomatic handgun and a rifle using a common gun lock, emphasizing standard safety steps: always treat firearms as if they are loaded, remove the magazine, lock the slide or action open, visually and physically inspect the chamber, and then run the lock through the action or barrel so the firearm cannot be operated. “The first step, anytime you're handling a firearm, just treat it like it's loaded,” Haddad said. He walked through removing the magazine, locking the slide to the rear, and visually inspecting the chamber before installing the lock.

Haddad also reviewed relevant California requirements cited in the presentation: safe storage is required when children or prohibited persons are in the household; if a firearm is lost or stolen it must be reported to local law enforcement within five days; and when transporting firearms they must be unloaded and secured in a locked container. On gun‑sales, Haddad reiterated that California requires either an approved firearm safety device (such as a gun lock) or proof that the purchaser owns a safe at the time of sale or transfer.

Chaffee and Haddad framed the program as a voluntary, harm‑reduction measure aimed at reducing theft and unauthorized use while respecting lawful ownership. To request a free lock, residents were told to visit d4.ocgov.com/freegunlocks and complete the online form. The presentation concluded with a public‑safety appeal to secure firearms to protect children and reduce theft.

The city council thanked the presenters and issued certificates recognizing those who appeared in the outreach video. No council action was required on this announcement.