Project ChildSafe Unites with Fish & Wildlife Agencies Across U.S. in Urging Americans to Hunt “S.A.F.E.” This Fall

To: ALL MEDIA
For immediate release

October 8, 2015

For more information contact:

Bill Brassard
203-426-1320

Project ChildSafe Unites with Fish & Wildlife Agencies Across U.S. in Urging Americans to Hunt “S.A.F.E.” This Fall

NEWTOWN, Conn. — The National Shooting Sports Foundation® (NSSF®) and nearly 30 state fish and wildlife agencies have joined forces in encouraging Americans to “Hunt S.A.F.E.” this fall by remembering to handle, transport and store firearms responsibly.

“At a time of year when more firearms are likely to be taken out of storage, transported and used in the field, we want to emphasize the steps hunters should take to handle and store firearms properly and securely,” said NSSF President and CEO Steve Sanetti. “With more than half of our country’s fish and wildlife agencies joining us in spreading those safety messages, we can do a lot to help prevent accidents and remind Americans to remember to Hunt S.A.F.E.”

The Hunt S.A.F.E. campaign urges hunters and all firearm owners to Secure your firearms when not in use; be Aware of those around you who should not have unauthorized access to firearms; Focus on your responsibility as a firearm owner and Educate yourself and others about safe firearm handling and storage.

This year, 29 state fish and wildlife agencies have agreed to use Hunt S.A.F.E. materials to help push messages on safe firearm handling during the hunting season. These include:

• A Hunting Checklist for Families with an easy to follow guide for ensuring safety while in the field.
• A Gun Storage For Your Lifestyle infographic outlining a variety of firearm storage options that keep lifestyles and budgets in mind
• The Ethical Hunter brochure discussing the treasured heritage of the hunting tradition as well as the importance of responsible hunting.
• The Project ChildSafe webpage which features a full library of safety resources as well as information on where and how to obtain a free firearm safety kit and gun lock.

Already, local departments like the Arkansas Fish & Game Commission and Iowa Department of Natural Resources have used Hunt S.A.F.E. messaging in their newsletters to hunter education instructors and conservation officers.

“These agencies are making an important contribution in reminding firearm owners to ‘Own it, Respect it and Secure it,'” Sanetti said. “We look forward to more agencies joining the effort in the weeks and months ahead.”

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About Project ChildSafe
NSSF, the trade association of the firearms industry, launched Project ChildSafe in 1999 (prior to 2003 the program was called Project HomeSafe) as a nationwide initiative to promote firearms responsibility and provide safety education to gun owners. Since 1999, the program has provided more than 37 million free firearm safety kits that include a gun lock to gun owners in all 50 states and five U.S. territories. That’s in addition to the more than 70 million free locking devices manufacturers have included, and continue to include, with new firearms sold since 1998. Project ChildSafe is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit charitable organization. All donations to the organization are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. More information is available at projectchildsafe.org.

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 12,000 manufacturers, distributors, firearms retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s organizations and publishers. For more information, visit nssf.org.