"There is a need to promote gun safety around children," according to Chief Deputy Sheriff Carl Ballengee. Ballengee has obtained 1,500 gun locks for Calhoun residents, free of charge. The locks came through a federal program called "Project Child Safe."
"Project Child Safe" is a nationwide program whose purpose is to promote safe firearms handling and storage practices among all firearms owners through the distribution of key safety education messages and free gun locking devices (firearms safety kits). The program is supported by a U.S. Department of Justice grant (DOJ), the National Shooting Sports Foundation, and is a component of Project Safe Neighborhoods.
Firearms accidents in the home can result from an unauthorized individual, often a child, finding a loaded and unsecured firearm in the home. The risk of firearms-related unintentional injuries or deaths can be reduced when firearms owners are aware of and fully understand their responsibility to handle firearms safely and store them in a secure manner.
"The locks are pretty expensive, if you go out and buy them," said Ballengee. Residents can stop by the Sheriff's office and request locks.
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