Lynn Lau
Northern News Services

Fort McPherson (Jan 07/02) - An increase in suicide-related calls is prompting police to crack down on improper storage of firearms.

Sgt. Kurt Lozinski says the detachment will practice a zero-tolerance policy for anyone who is not complying with federal gun regulations.

Over the Christmas break, the detachment responded to three suicide threats. In the most serious, an intoxicated man injured himself with a shot from a rifle after a domestic dispute. In 2001, police responded to 26 suicide calls including attempted suicides or threats of suicide.

In 2000, police were only called to five such incidents.

Lozinski says he's not sure why there's been such an increase, but safe firearms storage could help reduce the number of people who get killed or injured when distraught.

"A lot of times it's not their own firearms they're using, it's the ones that are easily available to them," Lozinski says.

"Sometimes, you come into homes and the guns are just laying in the porch area, on tables under beds, you name it."

Last year, Fort McPherson RCMP charged at least six people with improper storage of firearms.

Lozinski warns that when police visit a home for any reason and see any improperly stored firearms, they will seize all firearms and ammunition, and the owners will be charged.

The detachment has started putting up posters around town advising people of the zero-tolerance policy.

Federal regulations require that all firearms be equipped with trigger locks, and when not being used, guns and ammunition must be stored and locked up separately.

Lozinski says he has advised local stores to stock up on trigger locks and metal storage units.