On August 25, 2001, the Stephenville Police Department announced the kickoff of Project ChildSafe, a statewide firearms safety and free gun lock program at the Health and Safety Fair.

Project ChildSafe, which is funded through a grant from the Office of the Governor, Criminal Justice Division, will distribute 750,000 gun lock safety kits to law enforcement agencies throughout the state within the next 12 months.  As part of the program, the Police Department will distribute, free of charge, cable style gun lock devices to community members that request them.  The lock, which works like a bicycle cablelock, is threaded through the firearm's action, rendering the firearm inoperable.  The locks, in combination with the accompanying educational materials, are intended to promote safe handling and secure storage practices among all firearms owners.

The Stephenville Police Department is pleased to be a part of Project ChildSafe.  We strongly believe that educating gun owners about safe firearms practices in combination with using gun locking devices will help prevent accidental injuries and deaths.  These locks can be used o most types of firearms, including handguns, rifles and shotguns.  We urge local residents to take advantage of this opportunity to pick up free gun locks and use them to secure their firearms.

The free locks and safety pamphlets being provided by Project ChildSafe will be available for distribution at the Health and Safety Fair and then at the Stephenville Police Department.  For more information contact Officer Wanda Pringle at 254-918-1200.

© 2001 S. King

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