Connecticut State Police and National Shooting Sports Foundation to Promote Firearm Safety at The Big E

WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass., Sept. 12, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- 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.

About NSSF
The National Shooting Sports Foundation is the trade association for the firearms industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of more than 10,000 manufacturers, distributors, firearms retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen's organizations and publishers. For more information, visit www.nssf.org.

About Project ChildSafe
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. The program 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.

SOURCE National Shooting Sports Foundation