Authorities continue free gun lock program

Published 6:00 am Wednesday, February 9, 2005

Local law enforcement agencies are continuing to provide freecable-style gun locks after receiving a second shipment of thelocks from Project ChildSafe Tuesday.

The gun locks are available at the Brookhaven Police Department,Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department and the Mississippi Departmentof Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks.

“We’re pleased to provide these free gun locks,” said PoliceChief Pap Henderson. “It’s a safety issue for children and for thehome.”

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Local agencies began participating in the program late last yearwhen they received their first shipment of gun locks. Hendersonsaid he received about 250 at that time and the shipment receivedTuesday had another 200.

“I hadn’t run out, but I was getting low on them,” Hendersonsaid. “We have them here for anyone who wants them.”

The police department is currently limiting people to two orthree gun locks at a time to ensure there are enough to meetdemand.

“We may have to cut back later,” Henderson said.

Project Childsafe is a national initiative designed to help makehomes with firearms safer by raising awareness about responsiblefirearm ownership and storage.

The National Shooting Sports Foundation has partnered with Lt.Gov. Amy Tuck and state law enforcement agencies to distribute morethan 185,000 free gun locks in the state.

An expansion of Project HomeSafe, the ChildSafe initiative isfunded by a $50 million grant from the Department of Justice andwill provide nearly 20 million free gun locks and firearm safetyeducational material to families in all 50 states, the five U.S.territories and the District of Columbia.

In 2004, Project HomeSafe distributed 2.4 million safety kits to44 states.