Washoe gives away 1,500 gun locks to the public

RENO - Washoe County officials plan to give away 1,500 gun locks to the public here Saturday.

Project Homesafe, sponsored by the National Shooting Sports Foundation, donated the locks to the county sheriff's office.

The locks will be given away at Safety Expo from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Park Lane Mall.

''This is intended to educate the community about the handling and more importantly the storage of guns,'' Undersheriff Dennis Balaam said.

The cable-locking system secures an unloaded gun as opposed to a trigger lock, which can secure a loaded gun.

Project Homesafe has given away more than 180,000 locks in 200 cities and counties since last September.

Las Vegas as well as Douglas and Churchill couinties also participate in the program.