NCJ Number
204959
Date Published
May 2004
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This description of Project ChildSafe -- a nationwide firearm safety education program that teaches firearm owners how to store and safely handle their weapons -- encompasses funding and administration, firearm safety kits, safety kit distribution, and program accomplishments.
Abstract
Project ChildSafe is a component of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a comprehensive strategic approach to reducing gun crime nationwide through prevention, enforcement, and prosecution. To educate gun owners about proper gun storage and handling, Project ChildSafe distributes firearm safety kits that contain a gunlock and safety information. The project also assists local law enforcement agencies in scheduling firearm safety events in their communities. The Bureau of Justice Assistance, Office of Justice Programs of the U.S. Justice Department administers the project. Congress appropriated $50 million for the project in fiscal year 2002, with $20 million designated for firearm safety kits, $25 million in fiscal year 2003 for an additional 10 million kits, and $5 million in fiscal year 2004. Project ChildSafe is managed by the National Shooting Sports Foundation, a trade association for the firearms and recreational shooting sports industry. As of March 31, 2004, Project ChildSafe had distributed more than 9 million safety kits in nearly 12,000 communities in 46 States. This report indicates the number of kits and the number of law enforcement locations receiving them in six States: Illinois, Michigan, Montana, New York State, Washington State, and Wisconsin.