Cabela’s Outdoor Fund and Project ChildSafe, the nationwide firearm safety education program of the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), have partnered with fish and wildlife agencies in all 50 states to distribute firearm locks and to encourage Americans to “Hunt S.A.F.E.” this fall by remembering to handle, transport and store firearms responsibly.

“Thanks to a generous grant from the Cabela’s Outdoor Fund and the commitment of 50 fish and wildlife agencies, we’ll reach more hunters than ever before with the reminder to Hunt S.A.F.E.,” said NSSF President and CEO Steve Sanetti.

The campaign urges hunters and all firearm owners to be “S.A.F.E.” Secure your firearms when not in use, be Aware of those around you who are not authorized to have access to guns, Focus on your responsibility as a firearm owner and Educate yourself and others about safe firearm handling and storage.

The Cabela’s Outdoor Fund grant enabled NSSF to provide more than 50,000 free cable-style gun locks and safety materials that the agencies will distribute as part of their hunter education programs. NSSF also provided agencies with additional firearm safety kits that included a gun lock, and will be providing agencies with safety education resources that hunters and shooters can use and share in their homes and communities.

These include:

  • A Hunting Checklist for Families with an easy-to-follow guide for ensuring safety while in the field.
  • A Gun Storage For Your Lifestyle infographic outlining a variety of firearm storage options that keep lifestyles and budgets in mind.
  • The Ethical Hunter brochure discussing the heritage of the hunting tradition as well as the importance of responsible hunting.
  • The Project ChildSafe webpage, which features a library of safety resources as well as information on where and how to obtain a free firearm safety kit and gun lock.
  • The Talking with Kids About Gun Safety video, which provides helpful tips for parents as firearms come out of storage and are used in the field during hunting season.

“As the fall hunting season begins and firearms are taken out of storage, cleaned and transported to the range or the field, it’s an excellent time for parents to also have a conversation with their children about firearm safety,” Sanetti said. “But it’s important to keep in mind that firearm safety is always in season – we urge hunters and shooters to always remember that if they own a firearm, they should respect it and secure it when not in use.”

NSSF, a firearms industry trade association, launched Project ChildSafe in 1999 (prior to 2003 the program was called Project HomeSafe) as a nationwide initiative to promote firearms responsibility and provide safety education to all gun owners.

The Cabela’s Outdoor Fund is a tax-exempt organization dedicated to the promotion of conservation and of hunting, fishing, camping, boating and other outdoor sporting and recreational activities. The Fund engages primarily in lobbying and advocacy for these activities.