COVINGTON — Lt. Gov. Steve Henry has seven firearms in his Frankfort home, and every one of them has a lock.

        During a visit on Tuesday, Mr. Henry promoted a firearms safety program that includes distributing free gun locks to anyone who asks.

Dee Dee Sarff, director of Project HomeSafe, shows Daniel Cooper of Latonia how a gun lock works on a shotgun. The group promotes the safe storage of firearms. (Patrick Reddy photo) | ZOOM |

        “I've got a little girl in my house, and I want her to grow up safe — just like I want every child to grow up safe,” Mr. Henry said. “If you have a gun in your house, it needs to be unloaded and it needs to be locked.”

        Mr. Henry and a number of local officials — including Boone County Commissioner Tim Hamilton and Covington City Commissioner Alex Edmondson — are supporting Project HomeSafe, a national program with a goal of distributing 3 million gun locks across the country.

        Mr. Henry, the national co-chairman of the project, said he plans to help the program distribute 100,000 locks in Kentucky.

        The devices — which feature a lock and cable that prevents a weapon from being fired — are available from sheriff's offices in Boone, Kenton and Campbell counties.

        Mr. Hamilton said 750 of the locks are available in Boone County from Sheriff Mike Helmig. “This is a good program because it provides safety for children,” Mr. Hamilton said. “And some people can't afford gun locks or don't have one. Under this program, they can get one from their county sheriff.”

        Kenton County Deputy Sheriff Ray Murphy helped distribute the locks Tuesday in the parking lot of the Papa John's Pizza at 16th and Madison in Covington.

        “The program is designed to protect children and young people,” he said.

        The program is being operated by the National Shooting Sports Foundation.

        The organization received a $5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Justice to pay for the locks.
       
       

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