Project ChildSafe distributes free gun locks to Missouri citizens
Published Feb. 6, 2004
A simple metal wire could prevent accidental firearm injuries if Project ChildSafe's gun distribution plan works.
The program distributes steel cable style gun locks and firearm safety education material across the country. In January, Project ChildSafe distributed 1,800 gun locks throughout Boone County, spokeswoman Sarah Bowman said. Eventually, the program will provide 508,000 free gun locks in Missouri.
Project ChildSafe is an expansion of the National Shooting Sports Foundation's Project HomeSafe. It is funded by a $50 million grant from the U.S. Department of Justice.
"The National Shooting Sports Foundation created it because they wanted to get out a safety program," Bowman said.
Gun owners can pick up a free gun lock and information at the Columbia Police Department and the Boone County Sheriff's Department.
"We currently have between three and four hundred," Columbia Police Department Sgt. Danny Grant said. "We've been participating in this program for a couple of years."
He said he received some information about it a few years ago and thought it would be a good program.
"Since they're free and we have programs already available, we thought it would be a good idea and we should do it," Grant said. "No one wants to see any accidental gun injuries that could be prevented."
The Columbia Police Department will distribute the locks at the upcoming Home and Garden Show Feb. 27 to 29, Grant said.
The Boone County Sheriff's Department received 1,000 gun locks from Project ChildSafe, Maj. O.J. Stone said.
"We have a distribution box set up in our lobby," he said. "We anticipate that when people come into the lobby, they might wish to pick up one or two of them."
This is the first time the department has participated in Project ChildSafe's program, Stone said.
"We've heard about them before," he said. "We had some questions, but those issues appear to have been resolved so we opted to take part."
This was only the first time distributing Missouri, Bowman said.
"We haven't distributed the majority of locks yet," she said. "We have a partnership with different state agencies."
The program probably will be back sometime in the summer to continue distributing locks and information, she said. The locks can be picked up at the Boone County Sherrif's office durring normal office hours.