From NSSF
Vista Outdoor, a world leader in commercial, law enforcement and military ammunition and hunt/shoot accessories, has renewed its premiere sponsorship of NSSF’s Project ChildSafe program for 2020. The continued sponsorship enhances previous partnerships between the two organizations and advances their shared goal of promoting safe firearm handling and responsible storage.
“We feel very strongly about our partnership with Project ChildSafe,” said Jason Vanderbrink, President of Ammunition within the Vista Outdoor family. “It is the responsibility of all gun owners to ensure safe storage and proper handling. Project ChildSafe provides critical education and resources that advance each of these goals and promotes an enhanced culture of safety in the industry.”
NSSF launched Project ChildSafe in 1999 as a nationwide initiative to promote firearm responsibility and provide safety education to all gun owners. The centerpiece of the program is its free firearm safety kits, which include a cable style gun lock and safety brochure. To date, the program has distributed more than 38 million free gun locks through partnerships with more than 15,000 law enforcement agencies across the country and in five U.S. territories.
The program is almost entirely funded by NSSF member companies. In recent years, demand for the kits and program resources has more than quadrupled. Donations, grants and corporate sponsorships from partners like Vista Outdoor and its brands Federal and CCI Ammunition, Bushnell, RCBS, Hoppe’s, Champion, Blackhawk and Primos are helping NSSF keep up with the demand.
“At a time when so many Americans are buying firearms for the first time, efforts to promote firearm safety and education are essential,” said Vishak Sankaran, President of Hunt and Shoot Accessories within the Vista Outdoor family. “NSSF’s Project ChildSafe program is leading the way in this effort with consumers, industry and law enforcment; Vista Outdoor and its shooting sports brands are proud to continue our support.”
“Vista Outdoor and their shooting sports brands’ ongoing support helps Project ChildSafe put more free gun locks into communities and helps us spread the message of ‘Own It? Respect It. Secure It®.,’” said Joe Bartozzi, NSSF’s President and CEO and Chairman of the Project ChildSafe Foundation. “Storing firearms responsibly when they aren’t in use is the best way to help prevent firearm accidents, thefts and misuse, and we’re very honored to have Vista Outdoor’s continued support for this effort.”
Vista Outdoor’s previous support helped Project ChildSafe achieve substantial successes in 2019, including the launch of a focused firearm safety and lock giveaway program in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and the creation of new educational videos and other resources.
Vista Outdoor made its donation to the Project ChildSafe Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charity that helps support the Project ChildSafe firearm safety program.