Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office Announces Partnership with the Ad Council and Brady on Firearm Injury Prevention Campaigns

The extension of successful “Pause to Heal” and “End Family Fire” campaigns will help Illinoisans reduce incidents of firearm related injuries

Lake County, IL — On Thursday, April 23, the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office (LCSAO), Brady: United Against Gun Violence and the Ad Council launched local public education campaigns to reduce gun violence by raising awareness about Firearm Restraining Orders (FROs) and secure firearm storage.

This effort is an expansion of the state-wide “Pause to Heal” campaign that launched in 2024 through the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), Brady and the Ad Council to provide education about FROs as a critical tool in preventing firearm suicides and other shootings. This campaign is being supported by over $180,500 in grant funds, provided through the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA), secured by the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office to increase education, awareness, and use of FROs.

“Gun violence and unintentional shootings are not our destiny. We can save lives by putting good public policy into practice through aggressive public outreach. This campaign will ensure residents understand what Firearm Restraining Orders are and how to support a loved one in crisis. We are so proud to be working with these nonpartisan leaders to help save lives in Lake County,” said Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart.

This collaboration will also include localized Lake County versions of the Ad Council and Brady’s “End Family Fire” program, a national public education campaign that focuses on secure gun storage as an evidence-based solution to preventing gun violence. "Family fire” is a term that refers to a shooting that results from someone misusing an unsecured firearm in the home.        

This campaign is being supported by $50,000 in grant funds, provided through the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), secured by State Senators Adriane Johnson, Julie Morrison, Mary Edly-Allen and State Representatives Dan Didech, Bob Morgan, Laura Faver-Dais, Joyce Mason, Tracy Katz Muhl, and Rita Mayfield.

A Firearm Restraining Order is a legal tool that allows law enforcement, family members, or household members to petition a court to temporarily prevent someone in crisis from purchasing or possessing firearms. FROs are highly effective in reducing firearm injuries and deaths, especially firearm suicide, as they allow a person to “hit pause” on a potentially deadly situation and secure the time they need to heal. With 101 FRO filings in 2025, Lake County is the statewide leader in the implementation of Firearms Restraining Orders, according to data from the IL State Police.

Though FROs can be highly effective, a 2023 study from the Ad Council Research Institute and Joyce Foundation, found that prior to the “Pause to Heal” campaign launch, only 10% of Illinoisans were familiar with these potentially life-saving tools and know how to use them if needed. However, since launch, the “Pause to Heal” campaign has driven nearly 150K visitors to the statewide campaign website to learn more about FROs. A study by C+R Research conducted in November 2025 reported a statistically significant increase in campaign recognition among Illinois residents ages 18+, with those aware of "Pause to Heal” being over four times more likely to report visiting a website to learn about FROs in the past year than those who are not aware of the campaign.

These studies prove the critical need for and efficacy of localized efforts on FRO education, highlighting that local and state-level government agencies are key trusted messengers and audiences turn to government websites for information. This understanding serves as the foundation for this unique public-private partnership.

The new collaborations with the “Pause to Heal” and “End Family Fire” public awareness campaigns will directly reach Lake County residents through targeted advertisements in paid media across online video, digital audio, digital out-of-home, and social and will direct audiences to a digital hub on LCSAO.org/FRO to find resources and FAQs on FROs in Illinois and EndFamilyFire.org/LakeCounty to learn more about secure firearm storage.

"State and local government support is critical to curbing incidents of firearm injuries," said Michelle Hillman, chief campaign and program officer at the Ad Council. "We are honored to partner with Lake County and Brady to bring lifesaving information to Illinoisans and raise awareness of tools that can help keep themselves and their loved ones safe."

The expansion of the “Pause to Heal” and “End Family Fire” campaigns within Lake County is one component of a broader investment in firearm violence prevention that includes youth engagement, specialized victim services, coordination with existing community organizations, distribution of gun locks, training and implementation of FROs, and more. This includes the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office’s Gun Violence Prevention Initiative giving out approximately 10,000 free gun locks, provided by IDPH, to help prevent unintentional shootings, especially by young children who find guns in their homes, as well as firearm suicides and intentional shootings.

"Firearms are the leading cause of death for children in the United States, a devastating fact that can be changed with the help of public health initiatives and impactful safety tools,” said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra. “We are grateful to our partners in Lake County for highlighting the benefits of firearm restraining orders, gun locks, and other measures that, when used in tandem, can reduce gun violence and create safer communities for all.”

“Widespread awareness of Firearm Restraining Orders and secure gun storage is crucial to ending family fire and freeing America from gun violence,” said Brady President Kris Brown. “We can only truly prevent gun violence if everyone is aware of the evidence-based tools we have at our disposal to protect our loved ones. With 6.7 million children living in homes with access to an unlocked or unsupervised firearm, and firearm suicide rates on the rise, this partnership can empower families and community members to prevent tragedies and save lives."

For more information on FROs and secure firearm storage in Lake County, visit LCSAO.org/FRO and EndFamilyFire.org/LakeCounty.

Funding provided in whole or in part by the Illinois Department of Human Resources.

Funding provided in whole or in part by the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority. Points of view or opinions contained within this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the State of Illinois, or the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority.

About Brady

Brady is the nation’s oldest gun violence prevention group, responsible for the 1994 bipartisan Brady Bill, which established our country’s background check system for gun sales and continues to save lives every day. But we know that changing laws alone won’t end gun violence; we must also change hearts and minds. That’s why we take a comprehensive, three-point approach to free America from gun violence: change the laws, change the gun industry, and change the culture. Join the movement at bradyunited.org.

About The Ad Council   

The Ad Council convenes creative storytellers to educate, unite and uplift audiences by opening hearts, inspiring action and accelerating change. For more than 80 years, the nonprofit organization and its partners in advertising, media, marketing and tech have been behind some of the country's most iconic social impact campaigns – Smokey Bear, Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive Drunk, Tear the Paper Ceiling and many more. To learn more or get involved, visit AdCouncil.org, join the Ad Council's communities on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn, and view campaign creative on YouTube.