Coronavirus is affecting every city, town, village and neighborhood in the country. From the suburbs of Virginia to the farms of Idaho to the streets of my hometown, St. Louis, the virus has created conditions that the country has never seen before.
After weeks of fear-mongering from the gun lobby that firearms are the only way to keep families safe during this crisis, guns are being bought at alarming rates. The message seems to be that you are the only one who can protect yourself.
The truth is far different: The police are still the first and most important line of defense for public safety. They are still working. They are still protecting. They are trained and prepared for the moment.
Buying a firearm also comes with very real risks, especially without knowledge of how to securely store guns at home. As the retired police chief of St. Louis, I’m concerned that the record-setting gun sales we’re seeing are bringing unique risks into American homes that threaten to compound an already devastating public health crisis. And as a longtime gun owner, I hope those buying guns right now take seriously the critical responsibilities that come with keeping a firearm at home — responsibilities that are even more important in these unprecedented times.
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Over the course of my 25 years in St. Louis law enforcement, I served during the swine flu season, 9/11, and other tragedies and public health scares. Similar to our situation today, there were upticks in gun sales during each of those periods, likely spurred by concerns about a breakdown in law and order.
During each of these periods, there was no breakdown. Our department — and others across the country — continued to serve as a resource for information, safety tips, and most importantly security for the community.
Today, police departments, law enforcement officials and national guard troops around the country are doing the same thing. They are planning for scenarios, calling up reserves, and working with retired officers to fill in the gaps. They are finding ways to curtail mass infections and provide and distribute protective gear. And on top of all they are doing to meet the unique challenges of this pandemic, law enforcement officers here in Missouri and around the country continue to perform essential police duties. In a time when extremist groups are stoking fears of impending chaos, the public should know that law enforcers are still working around the clock, protecting all of our communities.
People should also know there are steps we all can take to improve public safety — including the safety of those closest to us. For gun owners, this starts in our own homes.
Unless it’s securely stored, a gun in the home is more likely to hurt and even kill you or someone you love than provide protection. With so many people confined to their homes right now — and with the coronavirus crisis causing financial, emotional, and mental stress for so many people — the risks are particularly high right now.
Experts are concerned about the prospect of increases in other forms of gun violence — particularly spikes in unintentional shootings, domestic violence and gun suicides.
The risk of unintentional shootings, particularly by children, rises with firearms in the home. Experts agree: To keep your home safe, firearms should be stored locked, unloaded and kept separate from ammunition. A quick and easy way to remember how to securely store firearms is to Be Smart, a program developed by Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America to provide information to gun owners on how to be smart with firearms in the home.
As people are more isolated and anxiety and tensions run high, experts worry about a second public health crisis with a spike in domestic violence. Around the country, departments are seeing crime moving inside. And unfortunately, we have already seen how dangerous domestic violence calls are for officers and citizens alike in Phoenix and other cities.
Additionally, suicide calls have increased, too, in communities around the country — including in Missouri. Using the resource suicide crisis lines, securely storing your firearms, and checking in on friends and family are critical ways to help prevent suicide during this time.
In addition to addressing the increased risks this crisis is bringing into homes, it’s important to recognize that gun violence on our streets also hasn’t paused during the pandemic. In this time of social distancing, organizations fighting gun violence in neighborhoods hardest hit — groups like Cure Violence here in St. Louis — are facing major barriers to doing work that is just as essential as ever. They deserve support from all of us, and the funding they need to continue their life-saving work.
No matter how you look at it, these are trying times. But we are strong and resilient. And through basic measures, we can minimize the risks this crisis is bringing.
Stay inside, follow instructions, and watch out for family and friends. If you’re a gun owner, protect everyone in your home by storing your firearms locked, unloaded, and separate from ammunition. In these challenging times, all of us should be leaning on the professional law enforcement officers who are trained and risking their lives for public health and safety everyday. They need us.
Daniel Isom is the former police chief and police commissioner for the city of St. Louis.
