National Night Out Event Connects Police With Community In West Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- National Night Out started a day early in West Philadelphia Monday, with a focus on protecting the community from guns.

The annual event brings police and neighbors together to have fun and promote safety.

Overbrook Park's event was part picnic, part rally to encourage people to take an active role in their community.

"The more neighbors get involved, the neighborhood gets better and we can improve the neighborhood," said Ryan Boyer.

"The first time that an officer meets a citizen, shouldn't be on a crisis situation," said Councilman Curtis Jones, Jr, who represents the neighborhood. "It should be at a picnic or gathering like this."

City officials sending the message that safe neighborhoods start in the home. Sheriff's deputies passed out free gun locks to anyone who wanted one.

"At least lock them up and make your home safe for your children," Marsha Wall, of the Southwest Community Advisory Group.

Over the weekend, Philadelphia police said a five-year-old boy in Germantown accidentally shot himself in the hand.

"Most gun accidents happen in the house that are mistakes," Boyer said. "The best way to prevent mistakes, we should have gun locks."

Congressman Bob Brady, D-PA 1st District, said he's working hard with his fellow democrats to get gun control laws passed. He recently joined a sit-in protest of 170 lawmakers on the House floor.

"We got the attention and we're going to keep it up," Brady said. "We're going to keep doing it until we get decent gun control legislation."

National Night Out events continue Tuesday night. Philadelphia plans to give out 1,000 gun locks over the next several days.