NWTF Pledges Support for NSSF’s Project ChildSafe

The National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) recently joined the National Shooting Sports Foundation’s (NSSF) Project ChildSafe to promote firearm safety messaging and the Own It? Respect It. Secure It.SM (ORS) initiative. It is a natural fit as firearm safety is of the utmost importance to the NWTF and its Hunting Heritage Programs.

“Our Hunting Heritage programs are designed to create future generations of hunters through the introduction of outdoors sports, firearm safety and overall sportsmen ethics. We also strongly reinforce the importance of safe firearm handling and storage for time not spent in the field,” said Mandy Harling, NWTF Hunting Heritage Programs manager. “Project ChildSafe and ORS initiative messaging will be integrated into our programs as a way to further reinforce the importance of firearm safety.”

Safely securing firearms in the home is the leading preventative measure for firearm related accidents, thefts and misuse. According to a National Safety Council report, accidental firearm fatalities dropped 22% during the years Project ChildSafe has been in effect. These instances now account for less than 1 percent of all fatalities nationwide.

“Partnerships with industry organizations like the NWTF play an integral role in furthering firearm safety,” said Steve Sanetti, NSSF president and CEO. “The more organizations and individuals who join in repeating the message of Own It? Respect it. Secure it.SM, the greater opportunity we have to help reduce firearm accidents.”

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. Through partnerships with more than 15,000 law enforcement agencies, the program has provided more than 36 million free firearm safety kits to gun owners in all 50 states and five U.S. territories. That’s in addition to the more than 70 million free locking devices manufacturers have included with new firearms sold since 1998, which continues today.

The NWTF Save the Habitat. Save the Hunt. initiative is a charge that mobilizes science, fundraising and devoted volunteers to give the NWTF more energy and purpose than ever. Through this national initiative, NWTF has committed to raising $1.2 billion to conserve and enhance more than 4 million acres of essential upland wildlife habitat, create at least 1.5 million hunters and open access to 500,000 acres for hunting, shooting and outdoor enjoyment. Without hunters, there will be no wildlife or habitat. The NWTF is determined to Save the Habitat. Save the Hunt.

To learn more about the NWTF Save the Habitat. Save the Hunt. initiative, visit www.nwtf.org.

National Wild Turkey Federation

The National Wild Turkey Federation is the leader in upland wildlife habitat conservation in North America. The NWTF is a nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving the wild turkey and preserving our hunting heritage.

Through dynamic partnerships with state, federal and provincial wildlife agencies, the NWTF and its members have helped restore wild turkey populations throughout North America, spending more than $331 million to conserve nearly 16 million acres of habitat. Wild turkeys and hundreds of other species of upland wildlife, including quail, deer, grouse, pheasant and songbirds, benefit from this improved habitat.

The NWTF also brings new conservationists and hunters into the fold through outdoor education events and its Women in the Outdoors, Wheelin' Sportsmen, JAKES and Xtreme JAKES youth outreach programs. Our dedicated NWTF volunteers introduce about 100,000 people to the outdoors through these programs every year.

Founded in 1973, the NWTF is headquartered in Edgefield, S.C., and has local chapters in every state and Canada. According to many state and federal agencies, the restoration of the wild turkey is arguably the greatest conservation success story in North America's wildlife history.