(Havre) – The Havre City Police Department are giving away free gun locks as part of the Child Safe Firearm Safety Education Program. Havre city Police Chief Gabe Matosich talks about the program.
“So, the Havre Police Department has received gun locks and educational material to give out to the public and this is under the Child Safe Firearm Safety Education Program and this program is funded under the Firearm Industry Trade Association and the National Shooting Sports Foundation. So, we were able to receive a bunch of gunlocks to secure your weapons at home as well as some educational materials. We have a firearms responsibility at home, of course we have the ten tips for firearm safety in your home and of course we have the firearms and suicide prevention education material.”
He continues on by talking about the ten tips of gun safety.
“Well, so these are all your standard tips that you also learn, you know when you go to get your hunter education license and stuff. So, you have the ten tips on there were your always keeping your firearm muzzle pointed in a safe direction, you’re always keeping your finger off the trigger, and firearms should always be unloaded when not actually in use and you should know how your firearm operates. So, it goes through all those ten safety tips that are very important especially when you’re out hunting.”
He also talks about how the gun locks work.
“So, they just basically have a cable on them, they are a lock and a key, and you know the cable will go through the mechanism there to prevent firearms from operating so they can’t discharge or anything like that. So, it’s just a safety procedure. Most firearms come with a lock when you purchase them but there are plenty out there that don’t have locks, and this is a good way to get a few locks if you need them and to help secure them.”
He goes on by explaining how big the problem of children playing with guns is in Havre.
“Yeah, its nationwide. there is a problem nationwide and, you know, we do have those incidents so this is just a good way, you know, to secure your fire arms and hunting riles within your your home. Just to make sure that, you know, your children don’t get into the weapons and cause some kind of accident or injury or anything.”
He finishes by offering a few words of advice on gun safety.
“You know, always keep them pointed in a safe direction at all times that’s kind of like the cardinal rule right there, the number one rule. And to keep your finger off the trigger and of course, you know, keep them unloaded when they’re at home or in your vehicle.”
