NEWTOWN, Conn. — In recognition of June as National Safety Month, as well as Responsible Gun Owners Day, NSSF® — the firearm and ammunition trade association — and Project ChildSafe® are encouraging gun owners to pay extra attention to firearm safety practices and responsible gun ownership, including securely storing their firearms when not in use. Project ChildSafe provides a host of resources for all types of gun owners, from first-time owners to experienced ones.
Over the last two years, there have been more than 14 million first-time gun owners, many of them seeking guidance on training and safety education at firearm retailers, shooting ranges and through NSSF’s Project ChildSafe program. Firearm ownership is a right enjoyed by millions of Americans, and with that right comes the responsibility to safely handle and store firearms when they’re not in use. Project ChildSafe has a vast library of firearm safety resources available to gun owners to help prevent accidents, theft and misuse, including suicide.
“NSSF and Project ChildSafe promote responsible gun ownership and safe firearm storage year-round, and National Safety Month allows us to elevate our safety messages even further,” said Joe Bartozzi, NSSF’s President and CEO. “We’ve seen a significant rise in the number of new gun owners over the last two years, and the growing diversity of gun ownership is truly amazing. We’re committed to providing a wide range a gun safety resources to help gun owners responsibly store their firearms.”
Project ChildSafe is also focused on the important role that preventing access to firearms plays in helping to prevent suicide. Project ChildSafe works to reach veterans and their families, active servicemen and servicewomen, teens and parents of teens to increase awareness of mental health and how to help someone going through a difficult period in life. NSSF and Project ChildSafe has partnered with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention to authentically speak to gun owners about mental health.
#ResponsibleGunOwnersDay
Saturday, June 11, is #ResponsibleGunOwnersDay, where gun owners are encouraged to head to their local gun range to enjoy the shooting sports and teach others about training and safety, and to celebrate the millions of responsible gun owners in America. Find a range near you at WheretoShoot.org.
“While there are many reasons for gun ownership, the common thread among them must be a commitment to store firearms responsibly when not in use, so they can’t be picked up by a child, stolen or accessed by someone who may want to harm themselves,” said Bartozzi.
Top Project ChildSafe resources for firearm owners:
A newly-updated digital brochure on best practices for safe firearm storage
A Guide for Parents: Understanding Youth Mental Health and Preventing Unauthorized Access to Firearms and corresponding video, developed in partnership with AFSP
A video highlighting How to Have a Conversation with Children About Firearm Safety
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About NSSF
NSSF is the trade association for the firearm industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of thousands of manufacturers, distributors, firearm retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s organizations and publishers nationwide. For more information, visit nssf.org.
