North Raleigh Today

In an effort to reduce self-harm and provide safe firearm storage options for soldiers, airmen, employees, and families of the North Carolina National Guard (NCNG), the NC S.A.F.E. (Secure All Firearms Effectively) campaign has supplied 10,000 gun locks to NCNG's Integrated Primary Prevention team.

Officials from the North Carolina Department of Public Safety (NCDPS) and the NC Guard announced this collaborative alliance today, March 18, during a press conference held at the NCNG Joint Forces Headquarters.

"At the end of February, NC S.A.F.E. was able to provide 10,000 gun locks to our allies in the Integrated Primary Prevention team of the National Guard," stated William Lassiter, Deputy Secretary of the Division of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention at NCDPS. "These gun locks will be available for soldiers and airmen across our state, giving them tools to make safe firearm storage a priority in their homes and thus protect their family members, friends, and loved ones."

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

"Safety is the organization's top priority; these gun locks ensure that elements of the North Carolina National Guard have the proper equipment to prevent accidental harm to themselves or others," said Lieutenant Colonel Ellis Parks.

Since its establishment in 2023, NCDPS staff have spread the message of practicing safe firearm storage among countless residents of North Carolina through community events, school events, professional conferences, and many other settings. In total, NCDPS staff have distributed over 100,000 gun locks for securing firearms along with hundreds of safes for storing them securely as well as informational materials highlighting best practices for safe firearm storage.

"Our message is simple: safely storing firearms saves lives," expressed Eddie Buffaloe, Secretary of NCDPS. "Whether it's using a safe box for storing firearms or other secure storage methods each responsible action we take helps prevent firearms from being misused or stolen."

Video footage from today's press conference can be viewed on NCDPS's YouTube page. For more information about the NC S.A.F.E. campaign and Spanish-language resources on safe firearm storage visit their website. For still images visit NCNG's social media account.