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In Your Community

Project ChildSafe Focus Community Efforts

WHAT IS A PROJECT CHILDSAFE FOCUS COMMUNITY?

Each year, Project ChildSafe identifies U.S. cities that have high rates of firearm-related accidents, thefts or misuse, including suicide, and launches targeted community outreach efforts to help promote responsible firearm ownership and storage.

We partner with diverse groups of community leaders—from local recreation centers and faith organizations, to law enforcement departments, sheriffs, city councilors, mayors and even state legislators—to help spread the word about firearm safety. In fact, several cities have adopted Project ChildSafe as their official gun safety program.

To date, we’ve launched targeted firearm safety campaigns in more than nine cities… and counting.

Galveston, Texas (July 2023)

  • 5,000 free gun locks distributed through 15 community partners
  • 125,000+ Galveston County residents reached through digital advertising
  • At press conference, mayor highlighted the importance of securely storing guns

VISIT COMMUNITY EVENT

Columbia, South Carolina (January 2023)

  • 2,000 free gun locks distributed through 10 community partners
  • 21,000+ Columbia residents reached through digital advertising
  • Mayor spoke at press conference announcement

VISIT COMMUNITY EVENT

Albuquerque, New Mexico (November 2021)

  • 2,000 free gun locks distributed through 8 community partners
  • 11,000+ Albuquerque residents reached through digital advertising
  • Launch announcement covered by all local TV stations

VISIT COMMUNITY EVENT

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – 2017

  • 1,000+ free gun locks distributed through 12 community partners
  • 430,000 Oklahoma City residents reached through social media
  • Launch event covered on all local TV news outlets

VISIT COMMUNITY EVENT

Memphis, Tennessee – 2017

  • 2,500 firearm safety kits distributed to local residents through 8+ community partners
  • 40 radio and television news stories/mentions
  • 10.2M earned and social media impressions

VISIT COMMUNITY EVENT

Cleveland, Ohio – 2018

  • Partnership with 10+ community partners
  • 1.2M+ Cleveland residents reached through digital advertising
  • Launch covered on 11 local TV news outlets

VISIT COMMUNITY EVENT

Baton Rouge, Louisiana – 2019

  • 1,000+ free gun locks distributed through 13 community partners
  • Launch covered on 6 local TV news outlets

VISIT COMMUNITY EVENT

Las Vegas, Nevada – (August 2022)

  • 1,500 free Project ChildSafe gun locks distributed through 8 community partners
  • 344,000+ Las Vegas residents reached through digital advertising
  • Launch event plus press release earned 8,900+ views and 22 pickups

VISIT COMMUNITY EVENT

Dallas, Texas (November 2023)

  • 10,000 earmarked free gun locks to community partners
  • 13,600+ Dallas minority gun owners/Spanish speakers reached through digital advertising
  • 286 pickups of Project ChildSafe Dallas press release

VISIT COMMUNITY EVENT

A centerpiece of these campaigns is a city-wide advertising program to reach local gun owners with messages about how they can be a champion of responsible gun ownership in their community, and pass that education on to others. These campaigns usually include billboards on heavily trafficked highways, geotargeted digital ads around major gathering places and local radio advertising to talk about firearm safety. Central to all of these is telling local residents where they can pick up a free Project ChildSafe gun lock.

Practicing firearm safety is a daily routine and reinforcing best practices to gun owners increases the chances of proper storage and decreases the chances of accidents and misuse.

RECENT FOCUS COMMUNITY LAUNCHES

Here’s a snapshot of some of our most recent focus community campaign results:

  • Texas

    Galveston, Texas (July 2023)
    • 5,000 free gun locks distributed through 15 community partners
    • 125,000+ Galveston County residents reached through digital advertising
    • At press conference, mayor highlighted the importance of securely storing guns

  • Columbia, South Carolina (January 2023)
    • 2,000 free gun locks distributed through 10 community partners
    • 21,000+ Columbia residents reached through digital advertising
    • Mayor spoke at press conference announcement

  • Albuquerque, New Mexico (November 2021)
    • 2,000 free gun locks distributed through 8 community partners
    • 11,000+ Albuquerque residents reached through digital advertising
    • Launch announcement covered by all local TV stations

Community Partner Spotlights

Project ChildSafe focus communities would not be possible without the dedicated, enthusiastic local leaders who partner with us to raise awareness of firearm safety practices in their community. We’re grateful to all the community leaders we’ve partnered with over the years—and recognize those who’ve gone above and beyond:

Larry Brown
Larry Brown
Bass Reaves Gun Club president
Brook Bassan
Brook Bassan
Albuquerque, NM City Councilor
Jack Logan
Jack Logan
Founder of “Put Down the Guns Now Young People” organization
Captain Danny Brown
Captain Danny Brown
Richland County Sheriff's Department
Captain Kellie Yates
Captain Kellie Yates
Columbia Police Department
Chris Allen
Chris Allen
Hoodneck nonprofit founder

How to Bring Project ChildSafe to Your Community

If you’re interested in bringing Project ChildSafe to your community, contact us to see how we can work together to start an official Project ChildSafe focus community campaign in your area.

And as a reminder, you can encourage your local police department to sign up to receive Project ChildSafe gun locks—don’t hesitate to reach out to them and ask.

Our Supporters

Project ChildSafe welcomes the opportunity to work with organizational supporters, such as retailers, gun clubs, shooting ranges, conservation groups and others to help spread the message about safe and responsible gun ownership.

Click here to learn how our supporters can be a part of the solution.