Harris County and the City of Houston announced the plan during a press conference last week, on the heels of its latest gun buyback event. 

Houston and Harris County leaders just announced their latest initiative aimed at reducing gun violence.  

The Harris County Sheriff's Department, Harris County District Attorney's Office and Houston Police Department announced a campaign to hand out 1,000 gun safes on a first-come, first-served basis during a press conference on Thursday, according to the Houston Chronicle's Jonathan Limehouse.  

The announcement comes after Houston and Harris County officials held the latest in a series of gun buyback events earlier this month. 

“We try and lead the horse to water but you can't make them drink,” Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg said during the news conference, according to the Chronicle's Limehouse. “I think when people take the affirmative action to go get a box, I think they will use it," Ogg continued.  

DA's Office's Community Engagement team will hand out the safes to whoever shows up to claim them first at HPD community meetings, DA's Office spokeswoman Suzanne Garofalo told the Chronicle's Limehouse in an email. HPD will also include information about gun locks and gun safety at these community meetings, according to the Chronicle's Limehouse.   

Houstonians and Harris County residents can pick up a free gun safe starting on Mar. 3 at 10 a.m. at HPD's Midwest Station, located at 7277 Regency Square, the Harris County DA's Office's Anna Carpenter told the Chronicle's Limehouse. Each household will be limited to one safe, according to Limehouse.  

Limehouse reported that Houston Democratic city councilman Edward Pollard is funding the first 1,000 gun safes. The initiative's launch comes after 4,400 firearms were reported stolen and 60 children died from gunshot wounds in Harris County last year.