Carson Sheriff's Department offers free gunlocks

The Carson City Sheriff's Department will be giving away gunlocks Wednesday as part of a nationwide program aimed at preventing accidental shootings.

From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. a Project Homesafe Distribution van and Deputy Richard Pope will be on hand in the Super KMart parking lot to answer questions about gun safety and distribute free gunlocks.

From 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. the van will be in the Wal Mart parking lot.

Wednesday is the only day to get a free gunlock.

The van serves as mobile firearm safety classrooms. A certified firearms instructor will provide firearm safety instruction to individuals attending the classes.

Participants can view a firearm safety video, check out a display of firearm safety devices and sign a written pledge of firearm safety.

Project Homesafe is a nationwide firearms safety program sponsored by the National Shooting Sports Foundation.

The foundation is funded in part by a $5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Justice.

An estimated 3 million free gun locks will be distributed nationwide.

Consumers will receive a newly designed cable-style gun lock that has successfully passed testing by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The new lock has an improved locking mechanism and a thicker and stronger braided steel cable. The new lock replaces the original lock that was found to have design limitations.

Gunlocks distributed last year through the program proved to be faulty after police found the devices could accidentally spring open when bumped.

The lock is part of a "gun safety kit" that includes a safety brochure. The brochure provides an overview of safe handling and secure storage procedures, and contains installation instructions for the Project HomeSafe lock.