Process Evaluation of BJA’s Firearm Lock Distribution and Safe Storage Program

• In Event: Preventing Gun Violence

Abstract

A number of studies have examined firearm storage practices and their association with firearm injury and death. The National Institute of Justice funded the RAND Corporation to conduct a process and implementation evaluation of the National Shooting Sports Foundation Project ChildSafe Campaign (NSSF) which distributes firearm locks, conducts safety education activities, creates Public Service Announcements and other media promotion, creates website materials, and establishes partnerships. The main research objectives were to monitor and document the program’s design; assess areas of success and strengths; and identify challenges to implementation. Overall, the PCS Communities project was able to create city-specific firearm safety campaigns that reflected the voice and culture of each community, and involved people who would champion the campaign by incorporating the message into what they were already doing. A key to success was having existing national partnerships that helped the PCS Communities team gain early traction in building local coalitions. Two major challenges were the ability and desire of local stakeholders to maintain and sustain the campaign after the PCS Communities staff and resources are no longer available; and the challenge of dealing with firearm safe storage, separate from the existing highly divisive political and policy conversations around gun ownership.

Authors

• Melissa Labriola, RAND Corporation

• Samuel Peterson, RAND Corporation