The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“HONORING PROJECT HOME SAFE” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Justice was published in the House of Representatives section on pages H670 on March 5, 2002.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
HONORING PROJECT HOME SAFE
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the gentlewoman from Indiana (Ms. Carson of Indiana) is recognized for 5 minutes.
Ms. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight to give special honor to Project Home Safe and their latest firearm safety initiative, although I do it under the shadow of yet another child's death caused by the reckless use of a firearm.
Yesterday, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, a 4-year-old boy shot and killed an 18-month-old girl with his father's handgun while the two of them were watching a movie. Another young innocent life ended. Congress has refused to enact common-sense legislation to prevent these kinds of senseless acts.
As part of the National Shooting Sports Foundation, Project Home Safe represents one of the largest and most diverse trade associations in America. Since September last year, Project Home Safe has toured 16 States and visited over 300 communities, distributing hundreds of thousands of firearm safety devices in an effort to improve and preserve the lives of our children.
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This month, they reached the great State of Indiana. In conjunction with our Lieutenant Governor, the Honorable Joe Kernan, Project HomeSafe launched a 35-day tour of Indiana, during which they will distribute 40,000 gun safety devices across the State. I want to commend the Department of Justice for providing the $5 million grant to enable this kind of activity.
From March 1 to April 4, Project HomeSafe will be working with the Indiana State Police to help distribute the trigger locks at Wal-Mart lots and K-Mart lots across the State. Indiana residents can receive a free firearm safety kit that includes a cable-style gun lock and a safety brochure detailing the safe storage of firearms.
To reinforce Project HomeSafe's safety messages, the firearms safety tour will travel through Indiana visiting 29 communities, using a 16-
foot mobile classroom truck designed to provide safety education at the community level. Indiana residents will be able to pick up their firearms safety kit, watch a safety video, and view a display of the safe storage equipment. A safety tour coordinator will also be available to answer any questions.
Indiana's children will be able to visit the mobile classroom and will be encouraged to take the Project HomeSafe Pledge, which is a pledge presented to parents by children to show their commitment to safe firearms. Having already visited Indianapolis and Bloomington, the Project HomeSafe tour will visit many other cities, and I would like to insert those in the Record for the edification of people.
PROJECT HOMESAFE INDIANA TOUR SCHEDULE, MARCH 1-APRIL 4
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Day and date City Time Venue
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Wednesday, 3/6/2002............ Columbus.......... 10:00-12:00 Wal-Mart, 1149 North National Rd.
Wednesday, 3/6/2002............ Jeffersonville.... 3:00-5:00 Kmart, 2960 Hwy. 62.
Thursday, 3/7/2002............. New Albany........ 10:00-4:00 Kmart, 3525 Grantline Road.
Friday, 3/8/2002............... Evansville........ 10:00-5:00 Wal-Mart, 4551 University Drive.
Saturday, 3/9/2002............. Evansville........ 10:00-5:00 Wal-Mart, 401, N. Burkhardt Road.
Sunday, 3/10/2002.............. Vincennes......... 10:00-5:00 Wal-Mart, 650 Kimmel Road.
Monday, 3/11/2002.............. Terre Haute....... 10:00-5:00 Wal-Mart, 5555 U.S. Hwy. #41.
Tuesday, 3/12/2002............. Carmel............ 10:00-5:00 Wal-Mart, 2001 East 151 Street.
Wednesday, 3/13/2002........... Lafayette......... 10:00-5:00 Wal-Mart, 4205 Commerce Drive.
Thursday, 3/14/2002............ West Lafayette.... 10:00-5:00 Wal-Mart, 2801 Northwestern Dr.
Friday, 3/15/2002.............. Hammond........... 10:00-5:00 Wal-Mart, 1828 165th Street.
Saturday, 3/16/2002............ Hammond........... 10:00-5:00 Big Kmart, 7925 Indianapolis Blvd.
Sunday, 3/17/2002.............. East Chicago...... 10:00-5:00 TBD.
Monday, 3/18/2002.............. Gary.............. 10:00-5:00 TBD
Tuesday, 3/19/2002............. Merrillville...... 10:00-5:00 Wal-Mart, 2936 East 79th Avenue.
Wednesday, 3/20/2002........... Valparaiso........ 10:00-5:00 Wal-Mart, 2400 Morthland Drive.
Thursday, 3/21/2002............ Portage........... 10:00-5:00 Wal-Mart, 6087 U.S. Hwy. 6.
Friday, 3/22/2002.............. Michigan City..... 10:00-5:00 Wal-Mart, 4301 South Franklin St.
Saturday, 3/23/2002............ South Bend........ 10:00-5:00 Wal-Mart, 3701 Portage Road.
Sunday, 3/24/2002.............. South Bend........ 10:00-5:00 Big Kmart, 4850 Western Ave. W.
Monday, 3/25/2002.............. Mishawaka......... 10:00-5:00 Wal-Mart, 316 Indian Ridge Road.
Tuesday, 3/26/2002............. Elkhart........... 10:00-5:00 Wal-Mart, 175 Country Road #6 W.
Wednesday, 3/27/2002........... Goshen............ 10:00-5:00 Wal-Mart, 2304 Lincolnway East.
Thursday, 3/28/2002............ Fort Wayne........ 10:00-5:00 Wal-Mart, 5311 Coldwater Road.
Friday, 3/29/2002.............. Fort Wayne........ 10:00-5:00 Wal-Mart, 1710 Apple Glen Blvd.
Saturday, 3/30/2002............ Marion............ 10:00-5:00 Wal-Mart, 3240 Southwestern.
Sunday, 3/31/2002.............. Kokomo............ 10:00-5:00 Wal-Mart, 1920 E. Markland Ave.
Monday, 4/1/2002............... Anderson.......... 10:00-5:00 Wal-Mart, 4420 Scatterfield Road.
Tuesday, 4/2/2002.............. Muncie............ 10:00-5:00 Wal-Mart, 4801 W. Clara Lane.
Wednesday, 4/3/2002............ New Castle........ 10:00-5:00 Wal-Mart, 709 S. Memorial Drive
Thursday, 4/4/2002............. Indianapolis...... 11:00 State Capitol, Wrap-up Press Conference.
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I am extremely proud of my own home State of Indiana in that it is one of only 18 States participating in this program, but the education of both children and parents about firearm safety is still lacking across the Nation.
A couple of weeks ago, a young man walked into a school in Indianapolis, Indiana, attempting to kill some 13 students. He lamented that the gun that he planned to use had a safety device on it that had already been inserted by his father and he was unable to follow through on his threat. Sadly, guns continue to be exempt from Federal oversight, and consumer protection laws continue to be tougher on toy guns than real guns.
Mr. Speaker, I would encourage Congress to pay attention to the senseless and early deaths of our children and take some immediate measures to counteract the early demise of our children. Safety devices can prevent unintentional firearm death and injury. Every unintentional shooting involving children could have been prevented by a child-proof gun safety device.
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