Sheriff’s Office Partners With Project ChildSafe To Promote Gun Safety

Release 15-156 Who: Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Operations Bureau Project ChildSafe U.S. Representative David Jolly [FL-13] Largo Police Department Clearwater Police Department Pinellas Park Police Department Belleair Police Department Treasure Island Police Department Indian Shores Police Department What: In a press conference, Sheriff Gualtieri announced a partnership with local law enforcement agencies, Congressman David Jolly, and Project ChildSafe to provide free gun locks and materials to citizens in an effort to promote gun safety. When: The press conference was held on Tuesday, June 23, 2015, at 9:00 a.m. Where: The press conference was held at the Sheriff’s Administration Building located at 10750 Ulmerton Road in Largo. Gun lock safety kits are available free of charge at two Sheriff’s Office locations: Sheriff’s Administration Building - 10750 Ulmerton Road, Largo Sheriff’s North District Office – 737 Louden Avenue, Dunedin Why: In a press conference today, Sheriff Gualtieri announced a partnership with local law enforcement agencies, Congressman David Jolly, and Project ChildSafe to provide free gun locks and materials to citizens in an effort to promote gun safety. The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office encourages citizens to keep their lawfully owned guns locked and stored in a safe place. With proper storage and security, incidents such as the accidental self-inflicted gunshot death of 2 ½-year-old Kaleb Ahles in Tarpon Springs earlier this year are preventable. Prevention is key to keeping the public safe and preventing serious injury and/or death from the accidental discharge of a firearm. "It’s no question that gun ownership is an absolute right, but there’s no right to irresponsible gun ownership," said Sheriff Bob Gualtieri at today's press conference. Project ChildSafe is a 501(c)(3) launched in 1999 by the National Shooting Sports Foundation as a nationwide initiative to promote firearm responsibility and to provide safety education to all gun owners. Citizens can obtain gun locks free of charge at two Sheriff’s Office locations: Sheriff’s Administration Building - 10750 Ulmerton Road, Largo Sheriff’s North District Office – 737 Louden Avenue, Dunedin