*** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ***

Contact:  Officer Kevin Schofield #91

                 BPD Public Information Officer

                 (510) 981- 5752

Berkeley Police to Distribute Free Gun Locks

  Berkeley, California (Tuesday, January 6, 2004) – The Berkeley Police Department will provide 1100 free firearm safety kits to local residents through a partnership with Project ChildSafe, the nationwide firearms safety education program.  The safety kits, which include a gunlock, are available for pick-up at the Ronald Tsukamoto Public Safety Building, 2100 Martin Luther King Junior Way. Kits will be available between 8:00am and 5:00pm.  No identification is required and NO questions will be asked.

Project ChildSafe, a program developed by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), will distribute millions of firearms safety kits throughout he country over the next year.  The program is funded by a U.S. Department of Justice grant, with additional funding provided by the firearms industry.

“We encourage residents to pick up a Project ChildSafe safety kit so that they can securely store their firearm”, said Field Support Division Captain Stephanie Fleming.  “Each kit contains a safety booklet and a cable-style lock.  The locks fit on most types of handguns, rifles and shotguns.  The goal is to prevent a child or any other unauthorized person from accessing a firearm in your home.”

By partnering with Project ChildSafe, The Berkeley Police Department is participating in a growing national effort to promote firearms safety education to all gun owners.  Project Child Safe will distribute gunlock safety kits to all 50 states and the five U.S. territories.

“We are pleased to have the Berkeley Police Department as a Project ChildSafety partner,” said Dee Dee Dockins, spokesperson for the program.  “Project ChildSafe is an important step forward in helping ensure that all firearm owners fully understand their responsibilities with respect to the safe handling and storage of firearms”.