The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Department, in conjunction with Project Child Safe, is distributing free gun-locking devices.

Project Child Safe is a program to promote safe firearms handling and storage practices by distributing gun-locking devices all over the United States.

The goal is to reduce the risk of firearm-related injuries and deaths. Officers say incidents usually occur when an individual, often a child, finds a loaded and unsecured firearm in the residence.

A child was accidentally shot recently in Morgan County after being able to access a handgun. The child is presently recovering.

Authorities say an unlocked firearm is an invitation to tragedy.

Officials offer the following safe home tips regarding firearms:

• Firearms kept for security reasons should be fully controlled at all times.
• Firearms are securely stored in a location inaccessible to children and other unauthorized persons.
• Sporting firearms are unloaded before being brought into a home and never loaded while inside a residence.
• When firearms are removed from storage, they are always carefully checked to confirm it is unloaded.
• Ammunition should be stored under lock and key, separately from firearms.
• Treat every firearm as if it were loaded.
• Keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction.

The free firearm-safety kit, which includes a firearm-locking device and a brochure, can be obtained while supplies last by stopping by the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Department in Crossville. The sheriff’s office is located at 90 Justice Center Drive in the Cumberland County Justice Center. It is off of South Main Street across from Cumberland Medical Center.

For additional information, call the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office at (931) 484-6176.