NSSF’S PROJECT CHILDSAFE NAMES JOHN “WESTY” WESTERFIELD OF YEAGER’S SPORTING GOODS “S.A.F.E. SUMMER LOCAL CHAMPION” IN FIREARMS SAFETY

BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) has recognized John Westerfield as a “Local Champion” for his efforts to promote firearms safety in his region. Westerfield represented major hunting, fishing, and firearm companies for 30 years before taking over at Yeager’s Sporting Goods.

“We in the firearms industry should do everything in our power to encourage our customers to secure their firearms in ways and places that make it impossible for a criminal or child to get their hands on it,” Westerfield said.

The Project ChildSafe S.A.F.E. Summer campaign is an annual campaign that recognizes people who are making a positive impact in their communities by supporting responsible firearms ownership. The campaign emphasizes the importance of responsible firearms storage – particularly in the summer when children are home from school and more likely to be unattended – and is a reminder that proper firearms storage is the #1 way to help prevent firearms accidents, theft and misuse.

“S.A.F.E.” serves as an acronym for Store your firearms responsibly when not in use; Always practice firearms safety; Focus on your responsibilities as a firearms owner; and Education is key to preventing accidents. The effort is focused on providing resources to help gun owners take actions and share information that will help keep their families and communities safer.

“NSSF’s Project ChildSafe program helps continue the downward trend of accidents involving firearms and children,” Westerfield said. “We are so convinced of it at Yeager’s that we now supply three healthcare clinics in our area with gun locks to hand out to families that visit them.”

“We’re very grateful for John Westerfield’s efforts to raise awareness of safe firearms storage,” said NSSF President and CEO Steve Sanetti. “He demonstrates how the firearms-owning community is committed to firearms safety, and his work plays a vital role in helping reduce firearms accidents.”

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About NSSF’s Project ChildSafe Program
NSSF launched Project ChildSafe in 1999 (prior to 2003 the program was called Project HomeSafe) as a nationwide initiative to promote firearms responsibility and provide safety education to all gun owners. While children are a primary focus, Project ChildSafe is intended to help children and adults practice greater firearms safety. Through partnerships with more than 15,000 law enforcement agencies, the program has provided more than 37 million free firearm safety kits to gun owners in all 50 states and the five U.S. territories, which is in addition to the more than 70 million free locking devices manufacturers have included with new firearms sold since 1998. More information is available at projectchildsafe.org.