Gun locks soon to be distributed to Charleston County School District nurses

Some Charleston County School District nurses will soon have gun locks in their clinics for students and families.

That's all because MUSC pediatricians work with CCSD. Right now, 60 gun locks are ready to be distributed.

CCSD's Director of Nursing, Ellen Nitz, said the gun locks will be dropped off at select schools over the next week or so. Nitz said they will go to schools who have the highest need for them at this time.

It's a personal topic for Nitz.

"I have actually cared for students that have had firearm injuries. That have now been, they become paraplegic. It is heart-wrenching to see a child, especially a young child, any person that has had their life really taken from them," Nitz said.

She said gun locks at home could save lives.

"Anything that we can do to protect our children, we need to really move forward and try to make that happen," she said.

It's why the Charleston County School District is teaming up with MUSC.

"We had the idea to make gun locks available at all of the schools. Essentially, it's just a way to meet parents where they are. We know that parents have access to the schools," MUSC Associate Professor of Pediatrics Dr. Annie Andrews said.

Dr. Andrews said they were donated by a group called Project ChildSafe. MUSC Public Safety applied to the program.

"You lock it. Secure the key. Put the key in a safe place and the gun will be through that cable and that will prevent anyone from being able to fire the weapon," Patrick Kelly with MUSC Public Safety said.

While the goal is to get gun locks in every Charleston County School, the gun safety advocates hope this is just the beginning of a larger effort.

"We can set an example to school districts in other parts of our state and other parts of the country," Dr. Andrews said.

Dr. Andrews also explained that they will likely target middle and high schools first due to the intersection of "the mental health crisis, our teenagers, and young adults are facing. With the COVID pandemic, with firearm violence."

It's a team effort to get gun locks into the hands of CCSD families.

"I think that we will start more by going through our guidance counselors and possibly our school resource officers (SROs). But, staff should be aware and principles will be aware that they are there," Nitz said.

Dr. Andrews said 40 other donated gun locks were also given to MUSC's Pediatric Emergency Department. She explained that keeping guns locked, unloaded, and separate from ammunition significantly decreases the risk of gun injuries and deaths of children at home.

ABC News 4 reached out to Project ChildSafe for comment but has not heard back as of Monday night.