Bill Romanelli is a spokesperson on behalf of the NSSF National Shooting Sports Foundation’s Project ChildSafe Program, where he works with firearm manufacturers, law enforcement, conservation groups and gun owners to emphasize the sporting community’s commitment to safety and responsibility, and to promote storing firearms securely when not in use. In his work with the National Shooting Sports Foundation, and in particular, NSSF’s Project ChildSafe program, he helps show how the hunting and shooting sports community, together with firearms industry, is leading the way on genuine gun safety across the US. NSSF Project Childsafe Project ChildSafe is a real solution to making our communities safer. At the 2020 SHOT Show, NSSF unveiled a program called, "Real Solutions, Safer Communities." Background: Within the broader gun debate, and certainly in the wake of horrifying events that make national news, there have been well-publicized calls for the firearm industry to take various actions on gun safety. These calls are often made without the benefit of real dialogue with the firearms industry, and that is something the industry wants to change. For too long the debate has been over extreme positions, assigning blame where it doesn’t belong, and about what’s not being done instead of looking at where we can make greater investments in approaches that genuinely advance the common good. People want to know what the industry is doing, and is willing to do. The industry agrees there’s room for more discussion and new ideas, and very much wants to have a seat at the table as solutions are being discussed. The goal is more dialogue on meaningful approaches, today and in the future, that advance gun safety and still preserve all Americans’ rights. At the same time, many of the actions being requested of the firearms industry, are in fact already being implemented, for decades in some cases. The industry remains fully committed to them, because they genuinely help save lives, protect the safety of our communities and prevent criminals from getting guns. Making sure the public understands these efforts is the purpose of the Real Solutions. Safer Communitiessm initiative. The Programs: Project ChildSafe (launched in 1999): A nationwide effort that aims to help prevent firearms accidents, thefts and misuse by providing free information and gun locks to communities. To date, more than 38 million free gun locks have been distributed. Don’t Lie for the Other Guy (launched in 2000): A national campaign to prevent illegal “straw” purchases of firearms, which publicizes that anyone attempting an illegal firearm purchase faces a federal penalty: Buy a gun for someone who can’t and buy yourself 10 years in jail. FixNICS (launched in 2013): to help keep guns out of the hands of criminals and prevent anyone who cannot legally have a gun from getting one, the firearms industry has led the way in improving the FBI National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) and has worked to improve laws at the federal level and in 16 states. The result: A 220% increase in the number of disqualifying records in the system. Suicide Prevention (launched in 2016): A Suicide Prevention toolkit to help firearms retailers, shooting range operators and customers understand risk factors and warning signs related to suicide, know where to find help and encourage secure firearms storage options. Operation Secure Store (launched in 2017): A joint initiative to help Federal Firearms Licensees improve security and help prevent robberies through programs that address security needs, as well as a matching rewards program that doubles the money offered for information leading to convictions. A Few Stats that May Surprise People Gun violence is actually decreasing in the United States Suicides account for the greatest number of gun deaths (nearly two-thirds) in America today Fatal firearms accidents are at historic lows, and today represent less than one half of one percent of all fatal accidents nationwide.