Firearms Safety and Education

Crime Stoppers of Beaufort County strives to raise awareness about the importance of firearm safety and to remind people about the devastating impact unsafe practices can have on individuals, families and communities, particularly in homes with children. Many gun deaths each year are accidental and happen in the home. Crime Stoppers of Beaufort County encourages our communities and households to evaluate their firearm safety through Safe Storage and Education.

Safe Firearm Storage

Those who choose to have firearms in their house must be diligent and meticulous about keeping their family and community protected by storing them properly. National SAFE Day (June 4) uses the acronym SAFE to act as a simple reminder of the best practices for firearm safety:

S ecure all firearms in the home
A sk questions of homes your child visits
F requently talk to children about the dangers of firearms
E ducate and Empower others in the community to be safe

Storage Options There are many safe storage options available to firearms owners and The Bureau of Justice Assistance has created a website to help gun owners be safer: www.safefirearmsstorage.org.
Some common storage options are:		It is a necessity of responsible gun ownership for owners to report lost or stolen firearms immediately and be able to provide the proper identification information about the firearm to include: Serial Number Name of Manufacturer Model Gauge or Caliber * Pictures are great but make sure they are close enough to see markings engraved on the firearm.
Trigger Locks
Cable Locks
Storage Cases
Lock Boxes
Safes

Gun Safety Education

The National Crime Prevention Council mascot is McGruff the Crime Dog! with his famous slogan, "Take A Bite Out Of Crime.” McGruff is a symbol of safety and crime prevention across the US. Since the 1980’s, McGruff has appeared in commercials, educational materials and even pop culture. McGruff’s 4-Steps of Gun Safety on the NCPC website teaches youth the importance of gun safety.