During Gun Violence Awareness Month, advocates elevate safe firearm storage initiative

During Gun Violence Awareness Month, North Carolina's NC S.A.F.E. initiative promotes safe firearm storage to reduce gun violence. The initiative, launched by former Governor Roy Cooper, has distributed over 175,000 gun locks and vaults and generated 85 million public safety impressions. Unsecured firearms contribute to incidents like the fatal shooting of an 8-year-old in Guilford County and rising school-based firearm offenses, while North Carolina ranks 10th in firearm thefts nationally.