Project ChildSafe Hits Major Milestone with 1,000 Supporter Organizations

Firearm industry program distributed nearly a quarter million safety kits nationwide in 2014

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Feb 24, 2015, 09:50 ET

NEWTOWN, Conn., Feb. 24, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Shooting Sports Foundation, trade association for the firearms industry, announces that 1,000 manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, ranges, hunter safety instructors and conservation groups 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.

These 1,000 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 lock 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.

"This milestone is more than a number—it's further testimony to the commitment on the part of the firearms industry, individual gun owners and the sporting community to make gun safety and personal responsibility a priority," said Steve Sanetti, President and CEO of NSSF. "These are all organizations that, collectively, can amplify the messages of Project ChildSafe. We've made great progress in helping reduce fatal firearms accidents, which are dropping dramatically and make up only 0.5 percent of all accidental fatalities. Our goal is to further reduce accidents, theft and intentional misuse by preventing unauthorized access to guns."

In the past year, major national organizations including the National Wild Turkey Federation, Ducks Unlimited, the International Hunter Education Association (USA), The National Association of Sporting Goods Wholesalers and Pheasants/Quail Forever have joined with Cabela's, Sportsman's Warehouse, the Mule Deer Foundation, the Wild Sheep Foundation, the Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation and Team USA Shooting, along with hundreds of individual retailers and gun ranges, to promote the messages and mission of Project ChildSafe to their members and through their marketing campaigns. This collective outreach has reminded millions of gun owners to safely and securely store their firearms when not in use.

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 storage 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.

"Proper storage is the number one way to 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. With these tremendous supporters on board, and more joining every day, the more Project ChildSafe will 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 36 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 was long supported by federal grants provided by the U.S. Department of Justice. Since 2008, when this funding was eliminated, the firearms industry has solely funded the Project ChildSafe program.

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.

SOURCE National Shooting Sports Foundation