Firearm Safety Locks: Federal Agency Implementation of the Presidential Directive

摘要

In his March 5, 1997, directive to heads of executive departments and agencies, President Clinton noted that firearms claim the lives of children daily and were the fourth leading cause of accidental deaths among children ages 5 to 14. In order to have the federal government serve as an example of gun safety, the President required that a safety lock device be provided with each handgun issued to federal law enforcement officers, in part, to reduce unauthorized use of handguns and protect children from injury and death. In May 1997, the white House issued a memorandum to all chiefs of staff clarifying that the directive covers all firearms, not just handguns, issued to federal law enforcement officers. Generally, before the presidential directive was issued, many federal agencies, such as DEA, FBI, and INS, already had developed firearms safety policies and were training their employees on how to properly secure their firearms when not in use. Further, the curriculum at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center specifically addressed the need for officers to use caution in securing firearms at home when children are present. Also, FBI and ATF officials told us that before the 1997 directive, their agencies were purchasing and distributing safety lock devices for all handguns issued to their agents. Similarly, National Park Service and Postal Inspection Service officials told us that before the 1997 directive, their agencies were providing-at the discretion of local management-lock boxes for home storage of firearms.