Before Lock It For Love distributed its first gun lock in July of 2017, Barb McNeile had been working for months behind the scenes ensuring the proposed program wouldn’t duplicate any similar efforts at keeping children safe from unlocked firearms. She, along with GGS president Judy Sherry, met with health care professionals, police officers and elected officials before adapting a successful St. Louis program to fit the needs of Kansas City.
Seven years and 6,490 free gun locks later, LIFL has reached most corners of the metro area, from the suburbs to the city’s urban core. Its volunteers have distributed locks at health and safety fairs, Back to School events, community baby showers, suicide awareness programs and more. Requests for LIFL have increased dramatically since the February shooting at Union Stations after the Chiefs Super Bowl celebration that left one dead and 22 others injured, including nine children.
“Barb does everything and anything Lock It For Love needs,” Judy said. “No one works harder or longer for the program than she does.”
Of her years chairing LIFL, Barb said, “It’s been incredibly rewarding to work with so many dedicated people whose focus is keeping kids safe. Without them and our own GGS volunteers, it would never have succeeded. Most importantly, we’re confident we’ve saved lives.”
As a GGS Board member, Barb has also chaired its development committee, initiated a formal budget process and coordinated the group’s original swag.
Luckily, she’s had help from Jim, her husband of 45 years. He’s often the photographer at GGS meetings and events plus Barb’s aide-de-camp. They have two married sons and two grandchildren who all live in California.
By the Numbers: Seven Years of Lock It For Love
6,490 gun locks distributed- 121 volunteers
- 1,900 volunteer hours contributed
- 250 community events attended
- 334 zip codes of lock recipients