MILWAUKEE — Twenty-seven kids under the age of 17 years old were shot and injured in Milwaukee in the first three months of the year, according to the Milwaukee Police Department. Six were shot and killed.

Many of these cases involve young children getting hold of an unlocked firearm.

But these accidental shooting deaths in Wisconsin are preventable.

One Wisconsin woman is making it her mission to lock up firearms.

“You may not own a gun, but you have family gatherings and people who own guns may be at your house and then you can hand one out to them for free to take home,” said Felicia Ferguson, program director for Community-Based Crime Reduction at WestCare Wisconsin.

Ferguson helps lead WestCare Wisconsin’s “Love Up, Lock Down” campaign. It’s helping spread the word about gun safety and distributing free gun locks.

Ferguson passes out free gun locks and educates people about the importance of gun safety on a weekly basis.

“People appreciate it because they are so readily available, and they are free. On average, at each event I can pass out one to seven gun locks and even up to 55 gun locks,” said Ferguson.

Ferguson said it only takes a few seconds to use a gun lock — a simple action that can save a life.

Denise Taylor said she stopped by one of the free gun lock events in Milwaukee because she has young kids in the house.

“I have a 7-year-old in the house. They are very curious, and I just want to be safe,” said Taylor.

Ferguson also keeps track of data on where the gun locks are handed out in the community.

“I have a survey that goes with giving out the gun locks so we can keep track of the zip codes that are getting them as well as the age groups,” said Ferguson.

The gun locks are free, and no questions are asked when getting one. People can also get free gun locks through the Milwaukee Police Department and Milwaukee’s Office of Violence Prevention.

People can also call Felicia Ferguson at 414-510-0922 to request a free gun lock. WestCare Wisconsin is able to hand out the free gun locks because of a partnership with Milwaukee County and Masterlock.

Ferguson spends hours raising awareness of gun lock safety, in the hopes that the seconds it takes to install a gun lock will save precious lives.