Connecticut State Police and National Shooting Sports Foundation to Promote Firearm Safety at the Big E
National Shooting Sports Foundation 09.11.14
At the Eastern States Exposition, Connecticut State Police and the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) will work cooperatively to encourage firearm owners to securely store their firearms when not in use to help prevent accidents, misuse and theft.
Through NSSF’s Project ChildSafe program, state police will distribute free gun locks, safety literature and child safety pledges, while supplies last.
“Our goal is to remind gun owners to take steps to keep firearms from falling into the wrong hands,” said Lt. Paul Vance, Connecticut State Police public information officer. “We’ll also be reminding Connecticut gun owners about laws requiring locked storage of firearms in their homes.”
Project ChildSafe is a national firearm safety education program developed by NSSF, the trade association for the firearms industry. Since 1999, the program has distributed 36 million firearm safety kits that include a gun locking device through partnerships with 15,000 law enforcement departments in every state and U.S. Territory. The program’s current “Own It? Respect It. Secure It.” campaign emphasizes this simple, effective safety message: “If you own a firearm, respect it and secure it when it’s not in use.”
“We are pleased to work cooperatively with Connecticut State Police at the Eastern States Exposition to promote the proper storage of firearms to deter unauthorized access,” said NSSF President and CEO Steve Sanetti. “Our efforts encourage a commitment to safety and personal responsibility that is helping to reduce firearms accidents nationally.”
State police officers will distribute the free firearm safety materials in the Connecticut Building on The Big E fairgrounds in West Springfield from Sept.12-28, while supplies last. They also will answer questions about safe firearms handling and storage options ranging from gun locks to lock boxes to full-size gun safes.
Anyone who wants a gun lock and is unable to obtain one at The Big E should visit www.projectchildsafe.org to see if their local law enforcement department participates in the Project ChildSafe program and has a supply of free gun locks. Non-participating law enforcement departments can request a free shipment of Project ChildSafe gun locks and education materials at www.projectchildsafe.org.
Project ChildSafe is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt non-profit organization.
Contact:
Bill Brassard, 203-426-1320
