Putting a lock on gun safety

Josey1

Putting a lock on gun safety By John Martin, Staff Writer December 07, 2001 J.T. Terry of Greenwood talks with Deputy Donald Watkins about safety locks for guns. Project Homesafe is designed to help prevent accidents. A national gun safety advocacy group gave away gun locks to local residents on the Leflore County Courthouse lawn Thursday in an initiative sponsored by Lt. Gov. Amy Tuck.Fueled by a $5 million federal grant, the National Shooting Sports Foundation designed Project Homesafe to distribute 3 million free gun locks through sheriff's departments and IGA grocery stores in all 50 states. Sixteen lieutenant governors have brought the program to their states so far."If this program can help prevent just one firearm accident, it is well worth the effort," said Oklahoma Lt. Gov. Mary Fallin, who endorsed the first statewide program for Project HomeSafe. Dan French, a representative for the program, set up a tent and handed out the locks along with literature about gun safety. French of Rochester, N.Y., works two-week shifts, driving a Project HomeSafe van full of locks, safety information and dummy guns from town to town.The Centers for Disease Control reported 28,874 people died from firearm injuries in the United States in 1999. That figure was down from the 1998 number of deaths at 30,625, but Project HomeSafe is trying to cut those numbers even further.French's teachings are directed at all gun owners, especially those with children."We advise them to do anything to keep firearms out of hands of kids and anyone who doesn't need to have them," French said.Some gun owners lock their firearms away in gun safes or locking gun cabinets to prevent others from handling them. French said gun locks ensure that a firearm is inoperable even if a child or unwarranted person gets ahold of it.Avid hunter J.T. Terry of Greenwood keeps his firearms locked in a case, but he keeps a cable lock on his idle handguns."If you deal with guns, you should know how to use the locks," he said.French was handing out cable locks, which consist of a rubber-coated braided cable that is threaded through the action and secured with a padlock, preventing the chamber from locking. Project HomeSafe advocates cable locks over trigger locks. With locks that secure only the trigger, the gun can still fire if dropped, French said.Project HomeSafe is also trying to dispel rumors that gun locks, while preventing some dangerous situations, contribute to others, he said. Many people who keep weapons handy for self-defense consider a lock clamped down on their firearm to be a hindrance if they are ever confronted with a violent offender. But, French said, the accidents that occur with handguns around the house far outnumber the amount of violent break-ins."Which is going to happen first?" French asked. "Are the grandchildren going to find the firearm, or am I going to face a robbery or something of that nature?"French also demonstrated how a spring within the locking mechanism provides a quick release, jarring the lock free from the gun's chamber. http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=2753707&BRD=1838&PAG=461&dept_id=104621

competentone

LOLThat's safe handling! A cable lock through one chamber of a revolver and the muzzle pointing at a man's gut?!?!Saftey rule #1: NEVER point the muzzele of a gun, loaded or unloaded (locked or unlocked), at anything you don't want to shoot.

salzo

competetone- Thats good. I did not even notice that when I first read this article.So many good quotes in this article to mention, but my favorite is from the AVID HUNTER- "IF YOU DEAL WITH GUNS,YOU SHOULD KNOW HOW TO USE THE LOCKS".Reminds me of my uncle and cousin, who are from Massachusettes, wrestling their "required when traveling" trigger locks, when they get to New York to do some deer hunting. I always make sure I watch them, and razz them as they wrestle with the "chastity lock" on their triggers.

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Happiness is a warm gun

22WRF

"With locks that secure only the trigger, the gun can still fire if dropped".I guess dropping your gun a real big problem.I never really thought about it until I read about the Kalifornia "Drop Test".I can't recall ever dropping a loaded pistol or for that matter an unloaded one. I take better care of my guns than that.Could it be a LEO says "Drop your gun, Hands up" and it's for their protection?

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Home of the Blue AngelsProviding a home for discontinued .22 Revolvers and Pistols, Join NRA & 2nd Amendment Sisters MemberNever miss a good chance to shut up (Will Rogers)