Maine Citizens Against Handgun Violence

Education and Safety

Maine Citizens Against Handgun Violence Foundation (501c3) is focused primarily on gun safety and education.

Since its inception in 2000, MCAHV-F has distributed over 23,000 trigger locks through our Gun Lock Giveaway project. Working with police departments all over Maine, trigger locks along with gun safety sheets have been distributed in almost all Maine communities.

In addition to the Giveaway project MCAHV-F has also promoted and held gun safety training courses. We educate about issues around guns in suicides, domestic violence and on college campuses.

You can support our safety and educational efforts by mailing your check to:

Maine Citizens Against Handgun Foundation
PO Box 4501
Portland, ME 04112.

Gun Safety Information for Parents

Never keep loaded guns in your home.
Always store your gun with a trigger lock and in a locked cabinet.
Lock and store bullets in a separate location from guns.
Keep guns out of sight and reach of children.
Make sure cabinet/gun lock keys are inaccessible to children.
Ask if there are unlocked guns in homes where your children play.
Educate your children to treat firearms as loaded and dangerous.
Tell them that when they see a gun, they should STOP, Don’t Touch, Run from the area, and Tell an Adult right away.
If your child, or anyone in your home, is known to be suicidal, remove all guns from your home.

General Trigger Lock Information

Never put a trigger lock on a loaded gun; attempts to attach a lock to a loaded gun can result in an accidental discharge. Trigger locks enclose the trigger guards of most guns so that the trigger cannot be pulled; gun locks are not foolproof however.
Trigger locks are just one component of gun safety; no lock can offer complete protection against accidental or intentional misuse.
Keyed trigger locks are not appropriate in all circumstances. In households with older children who might find keys or manipulate a lock, (key-less) combination locks and gun safes are recommended.
Gun locks and safes may be purchased at any store selling firearms.

We have a limited supply of trigger locks (a more detailed safety and instructional sheet comes with the lock). If your local police department has none, have them contact us or you may contact us for a lock.