NSSF AND PROJECT CHILDSAFE SUCCESSFULLY DISTRIBUTE OVER 2,000 GUN LOCKS IN THE CITY OF MEMPHIS

October 17 marked the successful launch of a community-led effort focused on preventing firearms accidents, thefts and misuse.

 

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) and Project ChildSafe distributed more than 2,000 free gun locks and several thousand more flyers and handouts on firearms safety and secure storage during its Project ChildSafe Communities citywide kickoff event yesterday. Mayor Jim Strickland, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee, City of Memphis leaders, law enforcement officials, local media partners, site directors and volunteers all contributed to raising awareness about responsible firearms ownership.

 

“Yesterday was truly a collaborative effort, and we thank everyone who dedicated their day to visiting the six distribution sites between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., providing instruction on how to use the Project ChildSafe gun locks, talking to residents about additional safe storage options such as lock boxes for the home and vehicles, and in general helping spread the message about being a responsible firearms owner,” said Bill Brassard, Senior Director, Communications, for NSSF, the trade association for the firearms industry.

 

The kickoff event was the start of a year-long, community-led effort encouraging gun owners to “Own It? Respect It. Secure It.” With funding from a $2.4 million federal grant, NSSF’s Project ChildSafe program will be further engaged in firearms safety education in the Memphis region into next year. Working with local stakeholders, Project ChildSafe will continue to remind residents to take steps to securely store their firearms when not in use to help prevent accidents, thefts and misuse, including suicide.

 

Please note that residents who didn’t have the chance to receive a gun lock and educational literature yesterday can pick one up at their convenience from the Memphis Police Department precinct offices.

 

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Through partnerships with more than 15,000 local law enforcement agencies and more than 3,400 organizational supporters, Project ChildSafe has helped educate firearms owners on the importance of gun safety, while distributing more than 37 million free firearm safety kits—which include a free gun lock—to communities in all 50 states and the U.S. territories.

 

For more information on Project ChildSafe Communities and how to get involved, visit projectchildsafe.org.

 

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This project was supported by Grant No. 2015-FG-BX-K001 awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The Bureau of Justice Assistance is a component of the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the Office for Victims of Crime, and the SMART Office. Points of view or opinions in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.