Parma Officials Announce Gun Safety Program

Left to right- Parma City Council President Sean Brennan, Parma Law Director Tim Dobeck, Parma Ward 5 Councilman Allan Divis

In light of seeming proliferating accidents and attacks involving guns, Parma City Council and the Parma Police Department have partnered to create a program to enhance gun safety in their community by providing residents with free firearm safety kits. The program is intended to be a proactive approach to preventing gun violence in the community. 

The program came into being through the efforts of Parma City Council President Sean Brennan, Ward Five Councilman Allan Divis, and Law Director Timothy Dobeck in partnership with the Fin, Feather and Fur company. Their efforts lead to working with Project ChildSafe, a nationwide firearms safety education program. 

Project ChildSafe is a program developed by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), which has distributed more than 37 million firearm safety kits throughout the country since 2003. The program is supported by the U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance and the firearms industry. Each kit includes firearm safety information, as well as a gun lock. 

“We encourage residents to pick up a Project ChildSafe safety kit so that they can securely store their firearm,” said Parma Police Chief Joseph Bobak. “Each kit contains a safety curriculum and a cable-style gun lock. The locks fit on most types of handguns, rifles and shotguns. The goal is to prevent a child or any other unauthorized person from accessing a firearm in your home.” 

By partnering with Project ChildSafe, Parma’s officials are participating in a national effort to promote firearms safety education to all gun owners. Project ChildSafe distributes gun lock safety kits to all 50 states and the five U.S. territories.

“We are pleased to have the City of Parma as a Project ChildSafe partner,” said Bill Brassard Jr., director of Project ChildSafe. “Project ChildSafe is an important step forward in helping ensure that all firearm owners fully understand their responsibilities with respect to the safe handling and storage of firearms.” 

“We will be distributing the kits at events throughout the city, including upcoming ward safety meetings,” Brennan mentioned. “Residents may also visit the Parma City Council office and show proof of residency for a kit,” Councilman Divis added. The City Council office is located downstairs at Parma City Hall, 6611 Ridge Road. For more information, call 440-885-8091.