MILWAUKEE  After two three-year olds were involved in tragic accidental shootings in Milwaukee within the last week, the police department and volunteers are starting a new effort to try to prevent it from happening again.
 
Bobby McQuay is a member of Near West Side. It’s a nonprofit organization that strives to make the neighborhoods on the west side of Milwaukee a great place to live, work and play.

McQuay joined several other volunteers and Milwaukee police to give out free gun locks to encourage residents to secure their firearms.
 
McQuay said he believes handing out gun locks after the recent accidental shootings involving two children is a way to strengthen the neighborhood.
 
“When a tragedy happens in a community, you know the community sometimes becomes charged and heightened in their awareness. So, us being out here today to provide some solutions to something that seems nominal is a big deal for us,” said McQuay.
 
Chanel Malone is one resident who received one of the gun locks. With her kids present, she wanted to give them an important lesson.
 
“You never touch a hand gun, but this is going to prevent y’all, so that if someone decided to touch it, it’s going to be locked so they won’t be able to shoot the gun,” said Malone.
 
Malone added that she was grateful to receive to a gun lock because having a firearm is a big responsibility.
 
“This is real cool because even if you are an irresponsible adult, because some is, let’s be honest, somebody is giving you something to help prevent anything from ever happening,” said Malone.

After walking through the neighborhood, McQuay said he was happy to hear that most people were willing to hear their message about gun safety.
 
“A free gun lock will help someone become more enthusiastic about using a gun lock because it’s free, then we can make that happen,” said McQuay.
 
As someone who lives and works in Milwaukee, McQuay doesn’t want to see the heartbreak caused by the tragedy of accidental shooting deaths involving children ever again.
 
He hopes these gun locks will help make that possible.