TPD, Project ChildSafe Partner To Provide Free Gun Safety Locks

TUSCALOOSA, AL. — The Tuscaloosa Police Department this week announced a partnership with Project ChildSafe to provide free gun safety locks to the public.

Project ChildSafe is a nationwide program developed by the National Shooting Sports Foundation to promote safe firearms handling and storage. Since 1999, TPD says the foundation has distributed more than 37 million free firearm safety kits through its partnerships with more than 15,000 law enforcement agencies.

Tuscaloosa Police Chief Brent Blankley said the gunlocks and safety kits are available for parents who own guns, as well as gun owners who have children regularly visit their homes.

“So many accidents involving firearms are preventable," he said. "I hope this will help gun owners remember how important it is to store their firearms securely.”

Kits also include a gun safety brochure explaining the importance of safe handling and secure firearms storage in the home.

Blankley lauded the partnership and said that if even one accident or death can be prevented through Project ChildSafe, this program will have been worth the effort.

"A key goal of this program is to keep gun owners from leaving a loaded firearm lying around the house where a child could pick it up and play with it," he said. "That's a tragedy waiting to happen."

TPD said Project ChildSafe is supported by the U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance and the firearms industry.

The department will provide a free gunlock to the first 100 residents who request one at TPD headquarters at 2501 Hargrove Road E. from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Firearm owners who request a kit will receive one with no questions asked.