Sheriff Greg Champagne, in cooperation with Project Child Safe have combined forces in helping St. Charles Parish gun owners make their homes a safer place by offering free gun locks to parish residents.

Project Childsafe is a nationwide program developed by the National Shooting Sports Foundation and endorsed by the US Department of Justice.

“We teach safe gun through our hunter safety courses. These locks along with education will be great tools in taking away excuses and all inconveniences while practicing gun safety,” said Sheriff Champagne.

“We believe we have a responsibility to do everything within our power to keep our children safe from harm, and if we can prevent even one accidental discharge of a gun, then these locks have fulfilled their purpose,” Champagne added.

The safety kits, including gunlock instructions and a safety information pamphlet, will be handed out to anyone who requests them, with no registration or identification required.

Two thousand safety kits will be distributed throughout the parish, at no charge.

Any St. Charles Parish resident wishing to obtain a gun lock can do so in person at the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office, Special Services Building on the east side of the parish courthouse. For more information on Project HomeSafe call the Special Services Division at 783-1355 or visit HomeSafe’s website at www.childsafe.org.