ADDED SECURITY-Law enforcement officials are offering free gunlocks to prevent tragedies.

Too often, a child gains access to an adult’s firearm and gets hurt or even killed.

Sheriff and police stations across the country are offering free gun- locks to prevent such tragedies. Local law enforcement stations recently received the kits to give to the public.

The federal gunlock program, or Project ChildSafe, partners with governors, lieutenant governors, United States attorneys, mayors and local law enforcement agencies across the country to distribute firearm safety kits free of charge to gun owners and to promote firearm safety at the community level.

"If anyone wants a gunlock, we give them out without question," said Capt. Harold Humphries of the Ventura County Sheriff’s department.

"This is a child safety issue," Humphries said.

Those who request a gunlock kit will receive a cable-style gunlock and a brochure about firearm safety, according to Humphries. There are two types of kits, he said. One is for a long-barrel gun and the other for a short-barrel gun.

"They mostly work on handguns, but they will work on a shotgun and various other rifles," Humphries said.

Project ChildSafe is the result of a federal grant that has already helped distribute over 20 million gun lock kits across the country.

The National Shooting Sports Foundation, the firearm industry’s trade association, created and manages Project ChildSafe.

"There continues to be a significant demand for firearm safety education across America and we are pleased that Project ChildSafe is able to meet that demand with millions of additional free firearm safety kits," said Doug Painter, foundation president.

"We are continuing to remind gun owners that their most important responsibility is to know how to safely handle and properly store their firearms in the home," Painter said.

East Valley Sheriff’s Station received about 1,000 gunlocks and many are still available, Humphries said. People can get as many gun- locks as they desire, he said.

"If someone asks for 100 of them, I’d probably question it," Humphries said. "But if they want five or six, or even 10, I’d have no problem with it."

Project ChildSafe will continue until the law enforcement agencies run out of the locks.

"This is a one-time grant, and, to my knowledge, once these gun- locks are exhausted, we probably won’t get any more unless the federal government decides to re-implement the program or extend it," Humphries said.