To “Lock It Up” When NotIn Use And Provides Firearms Safety Resources For Families 1.4 Million American Households Have Unlocked Firearms That Could Fall Into the Wrong Hands (NAPSA)—Launching today, the Safe Firearms Storage campaign encourages firearms owners to make safe firearms storage a priority. According to a study by the RAND Corporation using statistics from the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 1.4 million homes have firearms stored in a way that makes them accessible to the wrong hands— children, at-risk youth, potential thieves, and those who intend to harm themselves or others. To encourage current and prospective firearm ownersto safely lock up their weapons when they’re not in use, the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) announced a new public service advertising (PSA) campaign developed in partnership with the Ad Council and funded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). “We teach all drivers to buckle up in case of accidents and to lock their cars. The samelogic applies to this campaign; we want ownersto lock up their firearms to prevent accidents and keep them out of the wrong hands. Safe storage ensures that owners are doing their part to increase public safety,” said Ann M. Harkins, President and CEO, National Crime Prevention Council. The TV, radio, print, outdoor and online PSAs feature community voices calling on firearms owners to safely store their firearms. The campaign ads were created pro bono by the New York Citybased ad agency, Merkley+Partners. The PSAs end with thecallto-action: “Remember, Always... Lock It Up” and direct firearms owners to nepe.org to determine the best safety solution to fit their households, including: Clearing the firearm before storingit. * Using firearmssafety devices, such as trigger locks and cable locks. A new public service initiative encourages current and prospec- tive firearms ownersto safely lock up their weapons when the weaponsare notin use. Storing ammunition sepa- rately in a locked container. “For more than thirty years, we've worked with NCPC to produce ads designed to prevent crime including gun-related violence. Through iconic McGruff the Crime Dog we have helped communities “Take A Bite Out Of Crime.” This campaign repre- sents a powerful new extension of our efforts, and one that fosters a critical dialogue between adults about safe firearms storage,” said Ad Council President and CEO Peggy Conlon. The “Safe Firearms Storage campaign” website, www.ncpc.org, features a step-by-step, visual Snapguide and graphicsthatillustrate options for properly storing a firearm in your household. The website also offers resources to help firearms owners talk with their children about firearm safety in the home. The PSAs will be distributed to media outlets nationwide today and per the Ad Council’s model, the ads will air in advertising time and space entirely donated by the media and other partners.
