U.S. Attorney Joins "Night To Unite" In Macon-Bibb County, Works With Local Law Enforcement To Distribute Hundreds Of Free Gun Locks Across Macon, Albany and Columbus

MACON: Charles E. Peeler, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, announces that 500 firearm locking devices and firearm safety kits provided by the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia will be given out by the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office as part of Bibb County’s first annual “Night to Unite” event Tuesday, October 9.  Firearm locking devices and firearm safety kits will also be handed out in Albany and Columbus at later dates.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia received the firearm safety kits from Project ChildSafe, a program developed by the National Shooting Sports Foundation.  Working with local law enforcement, the U.S. Attorney’s Office plans to distribute gunlocks in Macon, Columbus, and Albany.  The program was designed by the National Shooting Sports Foundation to promote firearm safety through the distribution of free firearm safety kits, each including a gun lock and educational material on safe handling and tips on secure storage.  The Bibb County Sheriff’s Office will hand out the firearm safety kits to gun owners in the Macon area.

“Respecting the Second Amendment goes hand-in-hand with responsible gun safety practices,” said Charles Peeler, U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia.  “I am grateful for the close partnership we enjoy with our local law enforcement agencies that will be distributing hundreds of firearm locks directly into the hands of citizens.  The practice of locking up a firearm can prevent a weapon from being improperly used, protecting children and making our communities safer.”

Citizens in Albany and Columbus will also be receiving firearm locking devices and firearm safety kits courtesy of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia and the National Shooting Sports Foundation.  The firearm locking devices and firearm safety kits will be distributed to Albany gun owners by the Albany Police Department and to Columbus gun owners by the Columbus Police Department at each agency’s discretion.  For more information on their distribution, please contact those agencies directly.

Since 1999, Project ChildSafe has partnered with more than 15,000 law enforcement agencies to distribute more than 37 million firearm safety kits nationwide. You can learn more about Project ChildSafe and the National Shooting Sports Foundation by visiting www.projectchildsafe.org.

Night to Unite is an event focused on forging stronger connections between citizens and law enforcement, as well as strengthening community policing activities and sending a message to criminals that neighbors are united against crime.  There are events all day Tuesday in Bibb County.  To learn more, please contact Judy Gordon, Neighborhood Watch Coordinator with the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office at (478) 745-5162 or (478) 447-9763.

Questions concerning this release should be directed to Pamela Lightsey, Public Information Officer, United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 621-2603.