VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — After several shootings in the Hampton Roads area over the past few days, local law enforcement and city mayors are once again urging people to secure their weapons safely by using gun safety locks.
"We want to be a part of the solution, not the problem," said Virginia Beach Sheriff Rocky Holcomb.
On Monday, the Virginia Beach Sheriff's Department announced it was giving away free gun locks. Sheriff Holcomb said people can take several gun locks at a time. Holcomb said it's his goal to educate the public about firearm safety.
"Anytime type of gunplay that's involved in the city, if we can stop it, we want to stop it. It's senseless to see the folks out here with these illegal guns firing off these firearms in the city," said Sheriff Holcomb.
On Jan. 19, Newport News Mayor Phillip Jones and Police Chief Steve Drew and two grassroots organizations traveled to the White House. There, they met White House Deputy Director of the Office of Gun Violence Prevention Gregory Jackson Jr.
"They talked about a lot of federal funding support," said Mayor Jones.
While the Newport News Police Department also offers free gun locks, Mayor Jones recognizes the complexity of fighting gun violence.
"One part is education; it's going to be ensuring council and partnership with the school board to be able to pass along this knowledge and say you're not going to be able to leave firearms around your house, and we have free gun locks to prevent that," said Mayor Jones.
Sheriff Holcomb shared similar sentiments, saying gun locks may not stop all gun violence but it could save a life.
"Well, I hope it achieves safe firearm handling and that we're able to lock up firearms if you need to," said Sheriff Holcomb.