Police Department Giving Away Hundreds of Firearm Safety Kits Tuesday

Six-hundred gun locks and firearm safety kits will be handed out for free Tuesday in North Canton thanks to a generous donation and a partnership between the North Canton Police Department and Project ChildSafe. 

Goschinski’s Fin Feather Fur Outfitters president and owner Mike Goschinski heard of the project and donated 500 gun locks to match the 100 from Project ChildSafe. 

“We are pleased to have Goschinski’s Fin Feather Fur Outfitters participate in our efforts to promote firearms safety education to all gun owners and our residents,” according to a prepared statement from the police department.

The firearm safety kits will be handed out from 5 to 8 p.m. at the North Canton Acme Fresh Market, 1474 North Main St., in the lobby. 

Project ChildSafe, a program developed by the National Sports Foundation (NSSF), has distributed more than 35 million firearm safety kits throughout the country since 2003. The program is funded by the 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. Each kit contains a safety curriculum and cable-style gun 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," the police department said in a press release. 

The North Canton Fire Department will also be present to address safety concerns regarding first responder response to household safety and preventing injuries from firearms. 

“Working together we feel this 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.”