Project ChildSafe Names a Local Champion in Firearm Safety
National Shooting Sports Foundation 08.01.14
The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) has recognized Nicole Price of Warrior Tactical Firearms LLC in Montgomery, Alabama as a “Local Champion” for her efforts to promote firearm safety in the region. The recognition comes as NSSF continues 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.
Price was selected for her work partnering with the local sheriff’s department’s “Deputy Dave’s Day” event to bring Project ChildSafe to Montgomery. Through the event the local community was given free gun safety information and gun locks from the NSSF’s Project ChildSafe program. Prior to the event, budget cuts and lack of manpower prevented the community from having extensive outreach on gun safety with easy to understand materials. Price and her team now work with the sheriff’s department at their monthly firearm safety course, presenting a section on gun safety and proper storage.
“When we started doing the firearm safety courses, it was clear some people were not aware of the many safe storage options available to make firearms more secure, ” said Price. “Once we showed them the ease of the cable lock and other devices, people were thankful for the free lock and easy way to keep their gun safe from inappropriate users. ”
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 help 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 andEducate 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.
“As a mom and a gun owner, I was looking for information on ways to talk about guns with my child in a positive way. I asked around and began to do online research when I came across Project ChildSafe. I decided that their information and ease about communicating gun safety to people was something our community needed. The simple slogan can easily be understood and is easy for our partners to incorporate into their gun safety messaging. ”
“We’re very grateful for the work of people like Nicole, ” 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.
