North Raleigh Today

The NC S.A.F.E. (Secure All Firearms Effectively) Campaign has supplied 10,000 gun locks to the North Carolina National Guard’s Integrated Primary Prevention team. This initiative aims to reduce self-harm and provide safe firearm storage options for soldiers, airmen, employees, and their families within the NCNG.

The partnership was announced by leaders from the North Carolina Department of Public Safety and the Guard during a press conference at the NCNG Joint Force Headquarters on March 18.

“In late February, NC S.A.F.E. was able to provide 10,000 gun locks to our partners at the National Guard’s Integrated Primary Prevention team,” stated William Lassiter, NCDPS Deputy Secretary for Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. “These gun locks will in turn be made available to soldiers and airmen across our state, empowering them to make safe storage a priority in their households, and by extension protecting their families, friends and loved ones.”

The Integrated Primary Prevention team of the NCNG works to increase protective factors that reduce harmful behaviors among personnel and their families. This unit offers resources for self-harm prevention, family violence prevention, and workplace violence prevention.

“Safety is the organization’s top priority and these gun locks ensure that North Carolina National Guard servicemembers have the right piece of equipment to help keep them from accidentally harming themselves and others,” commented Lt. Col. Ellis Parks of the NCNG.

Since its establishment in 2023, NC S.A.F.E., through NCDPS staff members, has shared messages about safe firearm storage with many North Carolinians at various events including community gatherings and professional conferences. Over 100,000 gun locks and hundreds of gun safes have been distributed along with materials promoting best practices for firearm storage.

“Our message is simple: safely storing firearms saves lives,” said Eddie Buffaloe, NCDPS Secretary. “Whether it’s using a gun safe, lockbox or other secure storage methods, every responsible action we take helps prevent firearms from being misused or stolen.”