NSSF’s Project ChildSafe Names Jamie Lukens a Local Champion in Firearm Safety in “S.A.F.E. Summer Across America” Campaign
National Shooting Sports Foundation 07.09.14
The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) has recognized Jamie Lukens and Sportsmen of Tomorrow of Norton, Ohio, as a Local Champion in promoting firearm safety in the region. The recognition comes as NSSF launches its “S.A.F.E. Summer Across America” campaign as part of its ongoing Project ChildSafe program to emphasize the importance of responsible firearm storage – particularly while children are home from school and more likely to be unattended.
Jamie Lukens and Sportsmen of Tomorrow were selected for the outreach the organization has done to promote responsible firearm storage and safety education to the next generation of outdoor enthusiasts through classes, events and online. Since becoming supporters of Project ChildSafe last year, Sportsmen of Tomorrow passed out educational materials and gun locks to all of the participants at their hunter education courses and continues to provide educational materials to all participants, encouraging both novice and veteran gun owners to properly secure their sporting firearms.
“For us, safety has to be priority number one above everything else,” Lukens said. “You can’t afford to have a temporary lapse of judgment when it comes to safely securing your firearm. You have to practice safety first, both in how you teach gun owners and children about guns and how you practice gun safety in your own household.”
S.A.F.E. Summer Across America is an extension of NSSF’s S.A.F.E. Summer campaign, first launched in 2013. Consistent with Project ChildSafe’s overarching message of “Own it? Respect It. Secure it,” S.A.F.E. Summer Across America is a reminder that proper firearm storage is the #1 way to prevent firearm accidents, theft and misuse.
“S.A.F.E.” serves as an acronym for Store your firearms responsibly when not in use; Be Aware of those around you who should not have unauthorized access to guns; Focus on your responsibility as a firearm owner and Educate yourself and others about safe firearm handling and storage. The effort is focused on providing education and tools that helps gun owners take responsible action to keep their families and communities safer.
“Project ChildSafe allows us to work with local law enforcement to provide cable gun locks to all our members, free of cost,” Lukens stated. “The program fills a void by providing simple educational materials and, with free gun locks, people who may not be able to afford a gun safe can still store their guns responsibly and securely.”
“We’re very grateful for the work of Jamie Lukens and Sportsmen of Tomorrow,” said NSSF President Steve Sanetti. “They are great examples of how the firearm-owning community is committed to safety and personal responsibility, and their work is instrumental in helping 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. While children are a focus, Project ChildSafe is intended to help young people and adults practice greater firearm safety in the home. 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 and continue to do today.
Project ChildSafe was originally supported by federal grants provided by the U.S. Department of Justice. Since 2008, when this funding was cut, the firearms manufacturing industry has solely funded the Project ChildSafe program through the members of NSSF.
