Source: Associated Press, Press Release
Gov. Roy Cooper together with Attorney General Josh Stein, recently announced the NC S.A.F.E. (Secure All Firearms Effectively) initiative to urge North Carolinians to take action to safely store their firearms and save lives.
“For those of us who own guns, it’s our responsibility to keep them safe and out of the wrong hands,” said Cooper in a press release. “Safe storage is an essential part of responsible gun ownership, and this initiative will encourage North Carolinians to safely secure their firearms in their homes and vehicles.”
The NC S.A.F.E. initiative will distribute free gun locks and equip local law enforcement, doctors and school personnel with resources they can use to teach community members how to prevent children from accessing guns.
Another part of the initiative will provide an interactive map for people to identify nearby locations where someone can drop off their firearm for temporary storage if they are going out of town or have children visiting their home for a short period of time.
In the last few years, gun deaths among North Carolina children have risen to the level of a public health crisis. A report from the Child Fatality Task Force found that from 2012 through 2021, more than 600 children ages 17 and younger died from firearm-related injuries in the state.
“Too many of our children are dying from gun violence, and it simply does not have to be this way,” said Stein. “If you own a gun or are thinking of buying one, lock it up and keep it secured so it’s not stolen or lost. Our children’s lives may depend on it.”
With a rise in gun-related incidents in schools and a rise in youth suicides it is important that gun owners in North Carolina have the education and resources they need to safely store their firearms.
Read more at The Associated Press
