News Archive

Digital publication delivers NSSF program’s newest and most popular firearm safety materials

NEWTOWN, Conn. – Project ChildSafe^®, a program of the National Shooting Sports Foundation^®, now offers a new digital publication that provides easy access to its key educational resources on firearm safety and suicide prevention. The enhanced digital resource is one of the most comprehensive guides on gun safety available to the public today.

Project ChildSafe’s “Guide to Responsible Gun Ownership, Safe Handling and Secure Storage” is available for viewing and downloading.

“This expanded firearm safety resource will be of value to anyone wanting to educate themselves and others about nearly all aspects of gun safety,” said NSSF^® President and CEO Joe Bartozzi. “We believe it will be particularly useful to first-time gun owners—and there are many of them—who need a comprehensive resource on gun safety for themselves and their families.”

The resource includes links to gun safety videos for adults and children, infographics, public service announcements and additional safety content that can help prevent accidents, thefts and misuse of firearms, including suicide.

Topics include safe firearm handling, options for secure storage, what to consider when owning a firearm for home security, and the importance of preventing access by at-risk or prohibited persons.

This new, enhanced version adds content and links to many of Project ChildSafe’s most-requested safety resources, including:

• first-time gun owner educational materials
• overview of safe storage options such as lock boxes and their features
• storing guns securely in vehicles video and brochure
• a suicide prevention resource designed to help parents better understand youth mental health and deter unauthorized access to firearms
• safety messages for children, including NSSF’s award-winning McGruff videos on gun safety, and a child safety pledge.

NSSF’s Project ChildSafe program has provided nearly 40 million free firearm safety kits that include a gun lock and educational materials to communities in every state and the U.S. territories since its inception in 1999.

Learn more at ProjectChildSafe.org and help support Project ChildSafe’s efforts to keep communities and homes safe at ProjectChildSafe.org/donate.

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About NSSF

NSSF is the trade association for the firearm industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of thousands of manufacturers, distributors, firearms retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s organizations and publishers nationwide. For more information, log on to www.nssf.org.

About Project ChildSafe

NSSF, the trade association for the firearms industry, launched Project ChildSafe in 1999 (originally as Project HomeSafe). Since then, the program has provided nearly 40 million free firearm safety kits and gun locks to firearm owners in all 50 states through partnerships with thousands of law enforcement agencies across the country. That’s in addition to the more than 70 million free locking devices manufacturers have included, and continue to include, with new firearms sold since 1998. While helping to prevent accidents among children is a focus, Project ChildSafe is intended to help adults practice greater firearm safety in the home. More information is available at projectchildsafe.org.

NEWTOWN, Conn. – With the holiday season upon us, the National Shooting Sports Foundation^® (NSSF^®) reminds Americans to practice responsible safety measures at home, including safe and responsible firearm handling and storage.

“It’s important to remember that the holidays can be a challenging time of year for many, and that may be especially true this year—particularly for those who are unable to see loved ones due to the pandemic, or who may be feeling isolated or alone for other reasons,” said Joe Bartozzi, NSSF President and CEO. “We want to ensure families are practicing safe firearm storage habits to reduce the chance of a firearm accident this holiday season.”

Recognizing this, NSSF has launched its Project ChildSafe^® 2020 Holiday Safety campaign to remind Americans of the importance of firearm safety and secure storage, and provide tools to help keep families safe this holiday season. This includes safe and responsible firearm handling and storage information for current and new gun owners, home safety tips and guides on mental health and suicide prevention.

NSSF and Project ChildSafe have a variety of educational materials and resources available, including:

• An infographic for first-time gun buyers
• Tips for Firearm Safety in the Home
• A brochure and two PSAs (available here and here) highlighting firearm safety in vehicles
• An infographic detailing Safe Storage Options
• A guide for parents to help Understand Youth Mental Health and Prevent Unauthorized Access to Firearms
• A resource for military families and veterans highlighting The Role of Safe Firearm Ownership in Veteran Suicide Prevention
• A Firearm Storage and Safety Assessment Quiz
• A video highlighting How to Have a Conversation with Children About Firearm Safety

“Even though the holidays may be different this year, we want to encourage Americans to take the necessary steps to keep themselves and their families safe by continuing to prioritize safe firearm handling and secure storage,” said Bartozzi.

For more information and additional resources, visit www.projectchildsafe.org.

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About NSSF

NSSF is the trade association for the firearm industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of thousands of manufacturers, distributors, firearms retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s organizations and publishers nationwide. For more information, log on to www.nssf.org.

About Project ChildSafe

NSSF, the trade association for the firearms industry, launched Project ChildSafe in 1999 (originally as Project HomeSafe). Since then, the program has provided nearly 40 million free firearm safety kits and gun locks to firearm owners in all 50 states through partnerships with thousands of law enforcement agencies across the country. That’s in addition to the more than 70 million free locking devices manufacturers have included, and continue to include, with new firearms sold since 1998. While helping to prevent accidents among children is a focus, Project ChildSafe is intended to help adults practice greater firearm safety in the home. More information is available at projectchildsafe.org.

Project ChildSafe^® offers safety resources, educational materials for first-time and returning hunters

NEWTOWN, Conn.— NSSF^®, the trade association for the firearms industry, welcomes the millions of Americans who intend to go afield this hunting season – many of them for the first time – and reminds hunters to use, transport and store their firearms safely and help prevent accidents in the field, on the range and in the home.

“Americans have rediscovered the outdoors as COVID-19 has closed off other types of recreation,” said Joe Bartozzi, NSSF President and CEO. “Millions have also bought their first firearm and are curious to experience all that hunting has to offer. We want to make sure they have the tools they need to enjoy hunting and the shooting sports safely this season and for years to come.”

The effort comes as NSSF launches its 2020 “Hunt S.A.F.E.” campaign. Hunt S.A.F.E. is a component of NSSF’s Project ChildSafe initiative, which focuses on promoting secure firearm storage and preventing unauthorized access. S.A.F.E. is an acronym for Store your firearms responsibly when not in use; Always practice firearm safety; Focus on your responsibilities as a firearm owner; and Education is key to preventing accidents.

NSSF and Project ChildSafe are working with prominent industry influencers and partner organizations, including GAT Marketing for a sponsored giveaway contest to guide hunters toward a suite of hunting safety resources. These include:

• An infographic for first-time gun buyers
• Tips and guidelines on safe firearm handling
• A hunting checklist for families and a Hunt S.A.F.E. quiz
• The Ethical Hunter brochure
• A brochure on firearm safety in vehicles
• A Gun Storage Options for Your Lifestyle infographic
• Information on where to get a free firearm safety kit that includes a cable-style gun lock

First-time hunters will also appreciate the library of hunting tips, tactics and techniques available at NSSF’s LetsGoHunting.org website.

“Hunting is a time-honored tradition for many Americans, one that benefits conservation efforts across the country, and safety remains at the core of enjoying hunting,” Bartozzi said. “With so many Americans discovering and returning to this tradition, it’s a good time to remind all gun owners that storing firearms securely when they’re not in use is the No. 1 way to help prevent accidents and keep guns out of the wrong hands.”

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About Project ChildSafe
The National Shooting Sports Foundation, the trade association of the firearms industry, launched Project ChildSafe in 1999 (originally as Project HomeSafe). Since then, the program has provided nearly 40 million free firearm safety kits and gun locks to firearm owners in all 50 states through partnerships with thousands of law enforcement agencies across the country. That’s in addition to the more than 70 million free locking devices manufacturers have included, and continue to include, with new firearms sold since 1998. While helping to prevent accidents among children is a focus, Project ChildSafe is intended to help adults practice greater firearm safety in the home. More information is available at projectchildsafe.org.

About NSSF
NSSF is the trade association for the firearm industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of thousands of manufacturers, distributors, firearms retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s organizations and publishers nationwide. For more information, log on to www.nssf.org.

To Book Interviews with Joe Bartozzi, President and CEO, National Shooting Sports Foundation:

Contact Bill Brassard, Senior Communications Director, bbrassard@nssf.com or 203-426-1320 ext 212

To View the Resource and Video, Visit: www.projectchildsafe.org/parents-resources/

NEWTOWN, Conn. – The National Shooting Sports Foundation^® (NSSF^®) today released a new guide, developed in consultation with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), that helps parents recognize signs their children may be struggling with mental health issues and offers advice on how to talk to kids about suicide, make homes safer for those who may be at-risk and help reduce the risk of suicide among America’s teens.

The free resource – “A Guide for Parents: Understanding Youth Mental Health and Preventing Unauthorized Access to Firearms” – can be downloaded at NSSF’s Project ChildSafe^® website or AFSP’s Project 2025 website.

“Mental health may seem like a difficult topic to raise with children, but it doesn’t have to be,” said Doreen Marshall, AFSP’s Vice President of Mission Engagement. “Talking openly with our young people about mental health, just as we would physical health, can help protect our kids and give them the support they need, long before a crisis occurs.”

Multiple studies show today’s teens are dealing with higher levels of stress, anxiety, depression and other mental or emotional health concerns than any generation before them. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has created a new set of challenges for teens, including loss of structure, separation from peers and increased feelings of isolation—adding to the stressors young people are already bearing.

“With these realities, it’s crucial that parents take steps to secure potentially lethal methods of harming oneself or others. That may mean rethinking how and where you store your guns and other possible methods of self-harm,” said Joe Bartozzi, NSSF President and CEO.

The new guide covers the health, environmental and historical factors that may lead to kids being more at-risk, as well as warning signs that someone may be contemplating suicide, and critical advice on how and when to take action. There are also recommendations on how to secure firearms, prescription drugs, harmful chemicals and other lethal means so they can’t be accessed by a person in distress.

“Keeping guns out of the wrong hands is a firearm owner’s most important priority, and securing a firearm is one of the most important steps parents can take to protect at-risk teens and others in the home,” Bartozzi said. “Our Project ChildSafe website offers several resources on how to determine the best safe storage option for your home and family.”

NSSF and AFSP have developed supplemental resources, including A Tip Sheet For Parents: Mental Health, Suicide Prevention and Firearm Safety and Being There for Your Friends: A Guide to Helping Prevent Suicide, for teens who may be concerned about their friends but don’t know what steps to take.

“Suicide is preventable—increasing our knowledge of adolescents’ mental health, combined with secure firearm storage options, is a powerful combination to save lives,” Bartozzi said.

Importantly, anyone experiencing a crisis is urged to reach out to any of the following resources:

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Call 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255)
• Lifeline Chat: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/chat/
• Crisis Text Line: Text TALK to 741741
• Emergency Response: Call 911 or contact your local emergency room

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About NSSF

NSSF is the trade association for the firearm industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of thousands of manufacturers, distributors, firearms retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s organizations and publishers nationwide. For more information, log on to www.nssf.org.

About Project ChildSafe

The National Shooting Sports Foundation, the trade association of the firearms industry, launched Project ChildSafe in 1999 (originally as Project HomeSafe). Since then, the program has provided nearly 40 million free firearm safety kits and gun locks to firearm owners in all 50 states through partnerships with thousands of law enforcement agencies across the country. That’s in addition to the more than 70 million free locking devices manufacturers have included, and continue to include, with new firearms sold since 1998. While helping to prevent accidents among children is a focus, Project ChildSafe is intended to help adults practice greater firearm safety in the home. More information is available at projectchildsafe.org.

NEWTOWN, Conn., September 8, 2020 – As suicide prevention groups mark Suicide Prevention Month by calling for prevention to become a national priority during the COVID-19 pandemic, the firearm industry is supporting that effort by educating the public – particularly the gun-owning community, including veterans and their families – on how storing firearms responsibly and simply talking to loved ones can mean the difference between a life saved and a tragedy.

“It is a fact that suicide is preventable, and securing firearms is one of the most important steps gun owners can take to protect those at risk of suicide,” said Joe Bartozzi, National Shooting Sports Foundation^® (NSSF^®) President and CEO.

NSSF, the firearm industry trade association, has partnered with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) since 2016. Recognizing that nearly two-thirds of all firearms deaths are suicides and that half of all suicides in the U.S. are by firearm, NSSF took action by partnering with experts in the suicide prevention field. Around the same time, AFSP launched “Project 2025,” which seeks to reduce the rate of suicide by focusing on primary care settings, emergency departments, the gun owning community and correction systems.

As COVID-19 continues to elevate levels of stress, anxiety and uncertainty, NSSF is also marking Suicide Prevention Month by sharing educational resources for gun owners and veterans:

• Through Project ChildSafe^®, its firearm safety educational program, NSSF has partnered with former US Army infantryman Omar Avila, who was awarded the Purple Heart and Combat Infantry Badge for his service during the Iraq War in 2004. As a motivational storyteller, Paralympic powerlifter and hunting enthusiast, Avila is a prominent figure in the veteran community with more than 300,000 followers on Instagram. During Suicide Prevention Month, Project ChildSafe will “take over” Avila’s Instagram story to share firearm safety tips and resources directly with veterans and their supporters.
• NSSF and AFSP partnered with the U.S Veterans Administration and the U.S. Concealed Carry Association in a groundbreaking cooperative effort to produce a webinar on “Protecting Mental Health and Preventing Suicide During COVID-19.” The public is also encouraged to read this recent blog post from AFSP on taking care of one’s mental health during times of uncertainty.
• Also for veterans and their families, NSSF has a new resource for military families with tips on how to have this conversation and with suggestions for firearm storage options.
• NSSF and AFSP have created a Firearms and Suicide Prevention Brochure to help all gun owners better understand the risk factors of suicide and what prevention steps they can take. Given the importance of secure storage, gun owners can also review NSSF’s infographic on Safe Storage Options to Suit Your Lifestyle.
• NSSF and AFSP have also created a Suicide Prevention Toolkit to help firearm retailers, shooting ranges and gun owners nationwide understand risk factors and warning signs related to suicide, know where to find help and encourage secure firearm storage. Central to all the advice is how to “Have a Brave Conversation.”
• In the coming weeks, NSSF and AFSP will roll out a series of additional new resources on suicide prevention, specifically for parents.

“In addition to storing firearms securely, we’ve learned one of the most important things anyone can do if they’re worried about a friend or loved one is to talk to them,” Bartozzi says. “It’s okay to have a brave conversation and ask them directly about suicide. The experts tell us that asking about it won’t put the idea in their head, or cause them to act. In most cases, they’ll feel relieved someone cares enough about them to bring it up.”

Anyone experiencing a crisis, or concerned about the safety of a friend or loved one, is urged to contact any of the following resources:

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Call 988

Veterans Crisis Line: Call 988 and press “1”.

Lifeline Chat: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/chat/

Crisis Text Line: Text TALK to 741741

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About Project ChildSafe
The National Shooting Sports Foundation, the trade association of the firearms industry, launched Project ChildSafe in 1999 (originally as Project HomeSafe). Since then, the program has provided more than 38 million free firearm safety kits and gun locks to firearm owners in all 50 states through partnerships with thousands of law enforcement agencies across the country. That’s in addition to the more than 70 million free locking devices manufacturers have included, and continue to include, with new firearms sold since 1998. While helping to prevent accidents among children is a focus, Project ChildSafe is intended to help adults practice greater firearm safety in the home. More information is available at projectchildsafe.org.

About NSSF
NSSF is the trade association for the firearm industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of thousands of manufacturers, distributors, firearm retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s organizations and publishers nationwide. For more information, visit nssf.org.

NEWTOWN, Conn. — The National Shooting Sports Foundation® (NSSF®) today unveiled a new infographic for first-time gun owners in response to the surge in firearms sales across the U.S. Additionally, through its Project ChildSafe® program, NSSF has launched a new Firearm Storage and Safety Assessment Quiz, which allows gun owners to put their firearm safety knowledge to the test and learn if and how their safety habits might be improved.

“Our industry is seeing record-breaking sales in the midst of the COVID -19 pandemic, with a large percentage of these consumers being first-time gun buyers,” said Joe Bartozzi, NSSF’s President and CEO. “We want to be sure these new gun owners have as much information as possible about how to handle, use and store firearms safely and responsibly.”

The infographic covers a spectrum of information and provides helpful links on topics such as questions to ask before buying a gun, safe storage at home and where to find online training videos. The new quiz walks gun owners through a number of questions related to safe handling and storage of firearms, linking to resources and information to improve or enhance firearm safety practices. These new tools complement the safety training and education offered at retail stores, as well as the library of safety resources available through the Project ChildSafe program. These include a “Road To Responsible Firearm Ownership” tool, “Many Paths to Firearm Safety” video series and a Safe Storage Options infographic.

All of these materials and more will be concentrated into a new “Resources for New Gun Owners” section at ProjectChildSafe.org.

NSSF is also encouraging all parents, even if they are not gun owners, to discuss firearm safety with their families. The Project ChildSafe website has videos on how to talk to kids about gun safety, as well as McGruff the Crime Dog gun safety videos for school-aged children, among a suite of tools for parents and educators. Additionally, NSSF is working to help the firearm-owning community better understand the topics of suicide and prevention with its Firearms and Suicide Prevention brochure.

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About Project ChildSafe

NSSF, the trade association of the firearms industry, launched Project ChildSafe in 1999 (originally as Project HomeSafe). Since 1999, the program has provided more than 38 million free firearm safety kits and gun locks to firearm owners in all 50 states through partnerships with thousands of law enforcement agencies across the country. That’s in addition to the more than 70 million free locking devices manufacturers have included, and continue to include, with new firearms sold since 1998. While helping to prevent accidents among children is a focus, Project ChildSafe is intended to help adults practice greater firearm safety in the home. More information is available at projectchildsafe.org.

About NSSF

The National Shooting Sports Foundation is the trade association for the firearms industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of thousands of manufacturers, distributors, firearms retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s organizations and publishers nationwide. For more information, log on to www.nssf.org.

NEWTOWN, Conn. — The National Shooting Sports Foundation® (NSSF®) is pleased to report that unintentional firearm fatalities reached their lowest level ever, according to the latest data from the National Safety Council’s just-released Injury Facts Report 2018.

NSSF, as the trade association for the firearm industry and leading proponent of safe gun handling and storage, applauded the report, which shows fatal firearm accidents at their lowest level since record keeping began in 1903. The firearm industry has for the last two decades provided more than 100 million firearm locking devices with new firearms sold and through its award-winning Project ChildSafe® program—the largest and most comprehensive firearm safety program in the country. The industry’s educational materials are widely distributed to gun owners by firearm manufacturers, retailers, instructors and others nationwide.

“As an industry that prioritizes firearm safety, it is extremely good news to see this record decline in gun-related accidents,” said Joe Bartozzi, NSSF’s President and CEO. “It’s gratifying to know that our industry’s gun safety efforts, including our long-running Project ChildSafe firearm safety education program, are contributing to helping save lives.

With approximately 100 million gun owners in the country, the data demonstrates that firearms can be safely owned and used and accidents prevented as long as secure storage guidelines are followed. “Securely storing firearms when not in use is the No. 1 way to help prevent accidents, thefts and misuse,” said Bartozzi.

The National Safety Council data showed that for 2018 there were 458 firearm fatalities, accounting for less than 1 percent of unintentional fatalities from all principal causes. In the last two decades (1998-2018) accidental firearm deaths have declined by 47 percent. “Even one accidental firearm fatality is one too many,” said Bartozzi. “We’re aiming for zero, and this is great progress.”

With reports of many people purchasing their first firearm due to safety concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic, Bartozzi reminds new gun owners to use the safety device that came packaged with their new firearm when their gun is not under their direct control, to strongly consider using an additional safety device such as a lock box or lockable gun case, and to take advantage of the many gun safety resources at ProjectChildSafe.org, such as this video on the 10 commandments of firearm safety.

Also, with so many children at home because of COVID-19-related school closures, Bartozzi encourages parents to take time to have “the talk” with their kids about gun safety and to use tools such as the McGruff on Gun Safety videos and a video on how parents can talk to their children about gun safety on the Project ChildSafe website.

Learn more at ProjectChildSafe.org.

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About Project ChildSafe

NSSF, the trade association of the firearm industry, launched Project ChildSafe in 1999 (originally as Project HomeSafe). Since 1999, the program has provided more than 38 million free firearm safety kits and gun locks to firearm owners in all 50 states through partnerships with thousands of law enforcement agencies across the country. That’s in addition to the more than 70 million free locking devices manufacturers have included, and continue to include, with new firearms sold since 1998. While helping to prevent accidents among children is a focus, Project ChildSafe is intended to help adults practice greater firearm safety in the home. More information is available at projectchildsafe.org.

About NSSF

The National Shooting Sports Foundation is the trade association for the firearm industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of thousands of manufacturers, distributors, firearm retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s organizations and publishers nationwide. For more information, log on to www.nssf.org.

NEWTOWN, Conn. — The National Shooting Sports Foundation® (NSSF®) and its partners urge gun owners to keep firearm safety a top priority and are making safety resources widely available as gun and ammunition sales increase, especially among first-time firearm purchasers.

“During this stressful time and with children spending more time at home, the firearm industry reminds gun owners that protecting yourself and your family includes making sure your firearms are stored securely when not in use,” said Joe Bartozzi, NSSF President and CEO. “The last thing any firearm owner wants is to have their gun fall into the wrong hands, particularly those of a child or someone at risk of harming themselves.”

NSSF is working with firearm retailers nationwide to ensure they discuss safe storage options with their customers, whether they are new to gun ownership or experienced. Although safety is something firearm retailers regularly talk about with their patrons, the reminder by NSSF comes at a time when retailers across the country are extremely busy due to rising interest in firearm ownership.

For anyone considering buying a gun, Project ChildSafe®’s “Road To Responsible Firearm Ownership” tool discusses the basic safety steps a gun owner can take to ensure responsible ownership. Project ChildSafe’s “Many Paths to Firearm Safety” video series can also help gun owners understand how to determine the best safe storage device for their lifestyle, as can this Safe Storage Options infographic.

NSSF encourages gun owners and non-gun owners to use the library of firearm safety resources available on its Project ChildSafe website. These include the McGruff Gun Safety vid for young children and an educational video for parents on how to discuss gun safety with children of all ages.

“More parents are assuming the role of educators in their homes, so it’s a good to time have a talk with your kids about gun safety, even if you don’t own a gun,” Bartozzi said. “If you do own a firearm, be sure your family understands the safety rules regarding firearms in your home, and always store guns responsibly when not in use.”

Although the number of fatal firearm accidents is at historic lows, such accidents are almost always preventable. Proper firearm storage is the #1 way to help prevent accidents, as well as deter thefts. Secure storage can also play a role in helping to prevent access by persons going through a difficult time.

Since 2017, NSSF has partnered with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) to educate gun owners about mental wellness and suicide prevention. In this recent blog post, AFSP discusses taking care of one’s mental health during times of uncertainty.

In addition, AFSP and NSSF have developed a Suicide Prevention toolkit to help firearm retailers, shooting range operators and their customers understand risk factors and warning signs related to suicide, know where to find help and encourage secure firearm storage.

Anyone needing help for themselves or others can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK or contact the crisis text line by texting TALK to 741741.

For more information on firearm safety, please visit ProjectChildSafe.org.

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About Project ChildSafe

NSSF, the trade association of the firearm industry, launched Project ChildSafe in 1999 (originally as Project HomeSafe). Since 1999, the program has provided more than 38 million free firearm safety kits and gun locks to firearm owners in all 50 states through partnerships with thousands of law enforcement agencies across the country. That’s in addition to the more than 70 million free locking devices manufacturers have included, and continue to include, with new firearms sold since 1998. While helping to prevent accidents among children is a focus, Project ChildSafe is intended to help adults practice greater firearm safety in the home. More information is available at projectchildsafe.org.

About NSSF

The National Shooting Sports Foundation is the trade association for the firearm industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of thousands of manufacturers, distributors, firearm retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s organizations and publishers nationwide. For more information, log on to www.nssf.org.

Free gun locks, safety resources donated to mayor’s gun safety initiative

NEWTOWN, Conn. — Project ChildSafe®, the firearms safety program of the National Shooting Sports Foundation® (NSSF®), has provided 1,000 firearm safety kits and educational materials to assist Denver Mayor Michael Hancock’s new firearms safety initiative. The effort, which launched Feb. 1, focuses on promoting firearms safety throughout the Denver area.

Central to the effort are the free Project ChildSafe firearm safety kits, which include a gun lock, provided by NSSF as part of its national Project ChildSafe program. Locks and educational materials will be available from the Denver Police Department and other locations throughout the city.

“We’re thrilled to support this effort because safely and securely storing firearms when not in use works – it’s a real solution to help keep communities safer,” said Joe Bartozzi, NSSF’s CEO and President. “In recent years, fatal firearms accidents have dropped to historic lows. That’s a trend we’d like to see continue; that starts with a community-shared responsibility and emphasis on education and safety training, helping to prevent accidents, theft and suicide.”

In addition to the gun locks, Project ChildSafe also provides a library of resources on a number of gun safety topics, including secure storage options, safe storage and suicide prevention and how to have “the talk” about firearms safety with children. The program’s website has many other gun safety resources available for various audiences with different needs and uses.

Last year, NSSF’s Project ChildSafe marked its 20th anniversary of promoting firearms safety nationwide. For more than two decades, NSSF has partnered with law enforcement and other organizations in all 50 states to distribute more than 38 million free firearm safety kits, including gun locks.

For more information, please visit ProjectChildSafe.org.

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About NSSF
The National Shooting Sports Foundation is the trade association for the firearms industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of thousands of manufacturers, distributors, firearms retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s organizations and publishers nationwide. For more information, log on to www.nssf.org.