Columnist Paula DelGuidice: Program teaches firearm safety

Paula DelGuidice

Wednesday, Nov. 3, 1999 | 10:25 a.m.

Paula DelGuidice's outdoors column appears Wednesday. Reach her at PDelGuidice@compuserve.com

The National Shooting Sports Foundation recently launched Project HomeSafe in five pilot cities throughout the United States.

The program was first launched in Las Vegas. Following its first exposure, it was unveiled in Oakland, Orlando, Pittsburgh and Augusta, Ga. The program is a nationwide effort to help encourage safe handling and secure storage of firearms.

The pilot cities enthusiastically adopted the program when it was unveiled in their communities. Mayors and law enforcement officials lauded the safety initiatives as an effective way to reduce unintentional firearms-related injuries or deaths among their citizens.

Each pilot city received 5,000 "Putting a Lock on Safety" kits, paid for by voluntary contributions by participating companies in the Hunting and Shooting Sports Heritage Fund. Each safety kit includes a firearms safety curriculum, a cable-style gun lock and lock instruction sheet.

"We consider the safety curriculum to be at least as important as the gun locking device," said Doug Painter, NSSF executive director.

When asked why NSSF was launching Project HomeSafe at this time, Painter said that NSSF has long been active in promoting safe firearms ownership to millions who participate in the hunting and shooting sports.

"With Project HomeSafe, we are expanding our effort to include not only our traditional customers, but also new firearms owners -- individuals who may not have been exposed to safety education through traditional channels, such as hunter-education programs or other safety classes associated with organized shooting sports activities," he said.

Local police departments manage the distribution of the safety kits, which are given at no charge to firearm owners that request them. Police or other qualified firearm instructors show citizens how to install the cable lock on their firearms.

In Las Vegas, Crime Prevention Specialist Bill Tullock said, "We are hoping (these safety kits) will reduce the instances where a child sees a gun as a toy and you end up with a tragedy. Also, in cases of domestic violence, we think they might be able to offer a few moments of rational thought to someone before they decide to commit an act of violence on a loved one."

Information about Project HomeSafe can be obtained by calling a special toll-free number, 800-726-6444, or on the Web at www. projecthomesafe.org.

* WILDLIFE IN THE CITY: The Nevada Board of Wildlife Commissioners will meet on Friday and Saturday in Las Vegas to consider approval of NDOW's Upland Game and Waterfowl Release Plan, action on NDOW's recommendations for commercial reptile collection and to initiate a discussion on development and implementation of a policy for big-game management.

The Friday meeting will begin at 1:30 p.m. and the Saturday meeting will begin at 9 a.m. Both segments will be held at the Enterprise Library on 25 E. Shelbourne Avenue.

* FOWL WEATHER: Waterfowl hunters are keeping a close eye on the weather forecasts as they know that ducks and geese won't arrive in the southern end of the state until they are driven there by storms and cold weather.

"We need cold weather to get the ducks moving," said Bart Tanner, manager of Key Pittman Wildlife Management Area in Lincoln County. "Until that happens hunting will continue to be slow."

Hunters at Key Pittman and nearby Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge have been averaging less than two ducks per outing. Few flights of migrating birds have been seen at either area during the past week, according to Geoff Schneider, NDOW spokesman.

* STOCKING PONDS: The first rainbow trout plants of the season were scheduled for last Thursday in ponds at Floyd Lamb State Park and Sunset Park.

NDOW plans call for the ponds at the two parks, along with the pond at Lorenzi Park, to be stocked every two weeks through the end of March. The first stocking for Lorenzi Park is slated for Tuesday. The water there has not cooled sufficiently to allow the plant.

Anglers 12-older are required to have Nevada fishing licenses and trout stamps when fishing at the park ponds. Daily and possession limits are three game fish.

* SLOW BURN: A prescribed burn to eliminate cattails and promote growth of native grasses for waterfowl is scheduled for Thursday at Tule Reservoir at Wayne E. Kirch Wildlife Management Area in Nye County.

Ron Mills, installation supervisor, said that approximately 600 acres from below Haymeadow Reservoir to the dam at Tule will be burned. Fire crews from federal and state agencies will be on hand during the burn.

"The burn is being done to open up the reservoir and rejuvenate native grasses. By spring the area should be very attractive to migrating waterfowl," Mills said.

Kirch, which consists of five reservoirs, will remain open for hunting and fishing during the burn.