Press Release
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR BOLLING ANNOUNCES RETURN OF PROJECT CHILDSAFE TO VIRGINIA
Lt. Governor Bill Bolling urges safe and responsible gun ownership; 707,600 free gun locks distributed in state
Monday, October 29, 2007Richmond - Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling kicked off a statewide firearm safety campaign today, urging gun owners to practice safe and responsible firearms ownership and announcing that Project ChildSafe, the nationwide firearms safety education program, will again provide free gun locks to the state.
Bolling, Virginia State Police and local law enforcement will help distribute and encourage the use of Project ChildSafe's firearm safety kits, which include a cable-style gun lock and safety education materials.
"Everyone who owns a firearm has a responsibility to store their guns so they do not pose a threat to their children or their children's playmates," Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling said. "Project ChildSafe's gun lock safety kits provide the means to ensure that firearms are properly stored, helping make our homes safer."
Doug Painter, president of the National Shooting Sports Foundation, which developed and manages Project ChildSafe, said, "The goal of Project ChildSafe is to educate gun owners about proper handling and storage of their firearms in order to make homes safer and prevent tragic accidents. We also encourage gun owners, as well as those who do not own firearms, to teach their children how to be safe when encountering an unsecured firearm."
Children are encouraged to take the Project ChildSafe safety pledge and present a signed pledge to their parents to show their commitment to be safe around firearms.
Project ChildSafe is funded by grants from the United States Department of Justice, with additional funding provided by the firearms industry. Since 2003, Project ChildSafe has distributed 35 million firearm safety kits free of charge in all 50 states and some of the U.S. Territories.
"Thanks to the overwhelming support of our state and community partners, Project ChildSafe continues to be in significant demand for firearm safety education across America," said Painter. "We are continuing to remind gun owners that their most important responsibility is to know how to safely handle and properly store their firearms in the home."
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Project ChildSafe is a program managed by the National Shooting Sports Foundation and funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice. The National Shooting Sports Foundation can be reached at 203-426-1320.
For additional information contact Randy Marcus at 804-814-7117 (cell) or randy.marcus@ltgov.virginia.gov.
