Hinsdale gun owners could pick up a free gun safe this fall after the DuPage County Finance Committee voted Tuesday, Aug. 25, to spend $25,000 on a pilot giveaway program aimed at preventing gun violence.

The safes will be distributed at a Safety Saturday event on Saturday, Oct. 3, open to all county residents, according to committee records. The DuPage County Health Department will run the distribution.

Finance Committee member Michael Childress, a county board member from Bloomingdale, moved the budget transfer. Cynthia Cronin Cahill seconded. The measure passed with no public comment offered during the meeting, which Chair Paula Deacon-Garcia of Wheaton called to order at 8:01 a.m. and adjourned before 9 a.m.

The $25,000 comes from the county's contingency fund. Committee members called the program a strong first step in preventing gun violence and said it could expand if the October event succeeds.

The idea has been in the works since at least April 14, when the Finance Committee first discussed options for a gun safe giveaway. At that meeting, Chief Administrative Officer Nick Kottmeyer said he would research the legalities and costs. Early discussions referenced biometric safes specifically, though the August budget language does not specify the type of safe to be purchased.

The full DuPage County Board must still ratify the transfer at its next meeting. The gun safe item appears on the board's agenda as consent item 9.G.

County records do not yet specify where the Oct. 3 event will be held, how many safes will be available, or whether residents need to register in advance. The Health Department has not published event details.

A similar giveaway took place in Aurora on Aug. 15, organized by Project Safe Aurora through the Kane County Health Department, according to the Chicago Tribune. That event included Chromebooks and gas gift cards alongside gun safes.

Hinsdale residents interested in the Oct. 3 event should watch the DuPage County Health Department website (dupagehealth.org) for registration details and location as they become available.