NSSF Wins Awards for Two Programs

Project ChildSafe and Don't Lie for the Other Guy Honored

NEWTOWN, Conn.—Two nationwide initiatives developed by the National Shooting Sports Foundation—Project ChildSafe and Don't Lie for the Other Guy—have been recognized by the Associations Advance America (AAA) Awards program.

NSSF received an Award of Excellence for its Project ChildSafe program, the firearms safety education effort that has distributed 35 million gun lock safety kits. Don't Lie for the Other Guy, the NSSF program that works to prevent the illegal purchase of firearms, was named to the AAA Honor Roll.

NSSF is one of only 13 organizations nationally to receive an Award of Excellence in the first round of the 2010 Associations Advance America Awards program, a national competition sponsored by the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) and The Center for Association Leadership in Washington, D.C. Project ChildSafe is now in the running to receive a Summit Award, ASAE and the center's top recognition for association programs, to be presented at ASAE's 11th Annual Summit Awards Dinner at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 29, 2010.

"The National Shooting Sports Foundation is honored to receive these awards for Project ChildSafe and Don't Lie for the Other Guy from ASAE and The Center for Association Leadership," said Steve Sanetti, president of NSSF. "It is through Project ChildSafe that NSSF promotes the safe and responsible use and storage of firearms to millions of gun owners throughout the country and through Don't Lie for the Other Guy that NSSF helps prevent illegal purchases of firearms by prohibited persons."

Project ChildSafe's goal is to help reduce firearms-related accidents through the distribution of free gun locking devices and safety education literature. With support from the firearms industry and U.S. Department of Justice grants, Project ChildSafe has distributed approximately 35 million gun lock safety kits to nearly every law enforcement department in the 50 states and U.S. Territories. Law enforcement then provides the safety kits free of charge to gun owners in their communities, reminding them to safely handle and store firearms in their homes. Through the efforts of Project ChildSafe and other firearm safety programs, accidental firearms fatalities have dropped to their lowest levels since record-keeping began in 1903, including a 60 percent decrease in fatal firearms accidents among youth 14 and under in the last 10 years.

Through Don't Lie for the Other Guy, NSSF assists the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in educating federally licensed firearms retailers on how to better detect and prevent illegal straw purchases of firearms. An advertising component of the program warns the public that to illegally purchase a firearm is a serious crime. Don't Lie for the Other Guy, which is funded by the firearms industry and U.S. Department of Justice grants, has been launched in 25 cities, with the focus in the past year along the U.S.-Mexico border. The program's straw purchase deterrence message—"Buy a gun for someone who can't and buy yourself 10 years in jail"—recently topped one billion media impressions.

The NSSF programs Don't Lie for the Other Guy, Project HomeSafe (the forerunner to Project ChildSafe) and Step Outside were previously recognized by ASAE, the last time coming in 2006 when Don't Lie received an Award of Excellence.

Now in its 20th year, the prestigious Associations Advance America Awards program recognizes associations that propel America forward—with innovative projects in education, skills training, standards-setting, business and social innovation, knowledge creation, citizenship and community service. Although association activities have a powerful impact on everyday life, they often go unnoticed by the general public.

"NSSF's programs truly embody the spirit of the Associations Advance America campaign. It is an honor and an inspiration to showcase these activities as an example of the many contributions associations are making to advance American society," said 2009-2010 Associations Advance America Committee Chair Ping Wei, director of educational opportunities for the American Society of Civil Engineers.

For more information about NSSF's Project ChildSafe, contact Bill Brassard at bbrassard@nssf.org, and for Don't Lie for the Other Guy, contact Ted Novin at tnovin@nssf.org.

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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 5,000 manufacturers, distributors, firearms retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen's organizations and publishers. For more information, log on to www.nssf.org.