Firearm Safety Kits

Each safety kit contains a cablestyle gunlock and a pamphlet on gun safety and safe storage practices. Cable locks require that many types of firearms be unloaded before a lock can be installed, which adds another level of safety. The locks meet the testing protocol issued by the California Department of Justice, which is serving as an interim standard until the ASTM International (American Society for Testing and Materials) standard is finalized.

Safety Kit Distribution

Project ChildSafe establishes partnerships with governors, lieutenant governors, U.S. Attorneys, mayors, community leaders, and law enforcement agencies in the 50 states, Washington, D.C., and six U.S. territories to set up safety tours to distribute the kits. NSSF works with each state and territory’s leadership to determine local distribution, which is done by NSSF and local law enforcement agencies.

The safety tours begin with a state kickoff event, often with the governor or his or her designee in attendance. Each of a fleet of 15 education vehicles, which began touring in summer 2003, makes numerous stops around the state at local police stations and events such as state and county fairs, outdoor shooting sports events, fishing and hunting expos, sporting goods shows, and retail store events. A comprehensive television, radio, and print media campaign complements the distribution.

At the distribution sites, a trained program representative and local law enforcement officers distribute the kits, demonstrate how to use the locks, and answer questions about firearm safety and storage. Parents are encouraged to have their children sign the Project ChildSafe pledge to be safe around firearms.

During a safety tour visit, kits also are left for law enforcement agencies to distribute. If a local law enforcement agency does not have safety kits available, that agency can contact the NSSF representative to request a supply.