NEWTOWN, Conn. — The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), trade association for the firearms industry, announced as of May 29 that more than 1,100 organizations—including more than 30 since May 1—have joined with NSSF to promote Project ChildSafe, the industry’s national program to encourage responsible firearms ownership and provide safety materials to all gun owners.
Notable new supporters in just the past month include FFL Guard, National 4-H Shooting Sports, the World Safety Training Institute, Orchid Advisors and Providence Hospital of Southfield, Michigan, among numerous other sporting goods retailers, hunter education and law enforcement organizations.
“We’re so pleased that all facets of the firearms industry continue to support Project ChildSafe,” said Steve Sanetti, President and CEO of NSSF. “These are all organizations that, collectively, can amplify the safety messages of Project ChildSafe and help further reduce firearm accidents.”
These new supporters are in addition to the 15,000 law enforcement agencies that have partnered with NSSF since 1999 to distribute free Project ChildSafe firearm safety kits, which include a cable-style gun luck and safety education literature. Last year alone, NSSF and its partners distributed nearly 240,000 kits throughout the U.S. Since its inception, Project ChildSafe has distributed more than 36 million firearm safety kits in all 50 states and the five U.S. Territories.
Central to promoting firearm safety is Project ChildSafe’s “Own It? Respect It. Secure It.” initiative, whose logo is used by supporters as a continual reminder to securely store guns to keep them out of the wrong hands. A program infographic helps gun owners decide on safe storage options for their lifestyles and budgets and a new program video helps educate parents on how to talk to their kids about firearm safety.
“Proper storage is the number one way to help prevent firearm accidents,” Sanetti said. “The more we can get this message out, the more we will continue to see firearms accidents and misuse decrease. These tremendous supporters, with more joining every day, will help Project ChildSafe succeed in this mission.”
NSSF first launched Project ChildSafe in 1999 (prior to 2003 the program was called Project HomeSafe). The program’s distribution of more than 37 million free gun locks is complemented by the more than 70 million free gun locks manufacturers have provided with firearms purchased since 1998. Gun owners who want a free firearm safety kit that includes a gun lock can locate participating law enforcement agencies at projectchildsafe.org.
Project ChildSafe is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charity supported through contributions from diverse public sources to Project ChildSafe Inc. To learn more about Project ChildSafe or to make a donation, visit 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 more than 11,000 manufacturers, distributors, firearms retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s organizations and publishers. For more information, visit nssf.org.
