SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (Edited News Release/KY3) – NBA great Shaquille O’Neal, the Springfield Police Department, and police departments nationwide are teaming up to ensure gun owners everywhere practice firearms security and safety at home.

In partnership with the Community Partnership of the Ozarks’ Gun Safety Collaborative, which brings together numerous public safety and community agencies to address gun violence in Springfield, the Springfield Police Department is asking all legal gun owners to commit to the Right to Carry, Duty to Secure effort to encourage the safe storage of personal firearms. According to the latest available data, most Americans, including gun owners, agree that firearm security by people who lawfully own guns is reasonable and necessary.

Each year nationwide, approximately 200,000 guns are stolen in private theft incidents. Vehicles are the leading source of stolen firearms. Since 2020, 876 handguns have been stolen from vehicles in Springfield, including 88 in 2024.

Take it from Shaq, “You may have a right to carry, but you have a duty to secure your firearms.”

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