NSSF's Project ChildSafe Recognizes 11 "S.A.F.E. Summer Local Champions" in Firearms Safety

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Aug 30, 2017, 10:10 ET

NEWTOWN, Conn., Aug. 30, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Shooting Sports Foundation's (NSSF) Project ChildSafe program has recognized 11 people and organizations across the country as "local champions" for their work to promote firearms safety in their communities.

The recognitions come as Project ChildSafe concludes its fifth annual "S.A.F.E. Summer" campaign, focused on emphasizing the importance of storing firearms responsibly when not in use, especially during the summer months when children are home from school and more likely to be unsupervised.

"Storing firearms responsibly is the #1 way to help prevent firearms accidents, theft and misuse" said NSSF President and CEO Steve Sanetti. "S.A.F.E. Summer allows us to recognize local leaders who are helping spread this message and making their communities safer. Each of them is a great example of how the firearms-owning community is committed to safety and responsibility."

"S.A.F.E." serves as an acronym for Store your firearms responsibly when not in use; Always practice firearms safety; Focus on your responsibilities as a firearms owner; and Education is key to preventing accidents. This year, NSSF's Project ChildSafe recognized 11 champions across the nation:

Suzi Rouse, DIVA Women Outdoors Worldwide, President Oklahoma City Gun Club, Oklahoma City
Kanda Keepers, The Well Armed Woman, Oklahoma City
John Westerfield, Yeager's Sporting Goods, Bellingham, Wash.
Eddie Rimanelli, Brazen Sports, Detroit
Barbara Baird, Women's Outdoor News, St. Louis
Robert Hurst, Delta Waterfowl, St. Louis
Bukhari Abdel-Alim, Taasar Group, Richmond, Va.
Rich Knight, 4-H Shooting Sports Club, Carson City, Nev.
Maj Toure, Black Guns Matter, Philadelphia
Mike Rainwater, Lincoln Parish Sherriff Department, Ruston, La.
Nicolle Griffin, The Well Armed Woman, Yuma, Ariz.

NSSF launched Project ChildSafe (originally known as Project HomeSafe) in 1999 as a nationwide initiative to promote firearms responsibility and provide safety education to all gun owners. While children are a primary focus, Project ChildSafe is intended to help children and adults practice greater firearms safety. Through partnerships with more than 15,000 law enforcement agencies, the program has provided more than 37 million free firearm safety kits to gun owners in all 50 states and the five U.S. territories, which is in addition to the more than 70 million free locking devices manufacturers have included with new firearms sold since 1998. Project ChildSafe also provides a full library of videos, brochures and other tools on its website to help gun owners practice and promote responsible firearm ownership.

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 12,000 manufacturers, distributors, firearms retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen's organizations and publishers. For more information, visit www.nssf.org.

SOURCE National Shooting Sports Foundation