Opinion
WASHINGTON, D.C. — NSSF®, The Firearm Industry Trade Association, is bringing the Real Solutions. Safer Communities® message to New York City’s Times Square. Firearm safety messages will be displayed on a digital billboard throughout the summer to spread the message of proven firearm-industry programs to New York City. The three-month campaign, launched in May, will broadcast rotating video public awareness messages during the peak tourist events, including Fleet Week, Memorial Day, Independence Day, the Belmont Stakes and the U.S. Open Tennis tournament, among other Big Apple celebrations.
New York lawmakers restricted Time Square as a “gun-free zone” following the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark Bruen decision. However, that is not stopping NSSF from bringing the firearm safety message to all parts of America. Firearm safety is a universal message and NSSF’s Real Solutions. Safer Communities® campaign includes award-winning programs and partnerships with law enforcement that have proven to save lives.
“Broadcasting our Real Solutions message in Times Square is a tremendous opportunity to advance true gun safety,” said Joe Bartozzi, NSSF President and CEO. “There isn’t a part of this nation that we won’t go to bring proven and effective programs that we know saves lives. The Real Solutions message is that the firearm industry is invested in strategies to save lives while respecting the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens. More importantly, the messenger matters. These are proven life-saving safety initiatives and we want to get those messages to everyone on America – from Main Street, U.S.A. to Times Square.”
The two-sided screen is strategically positioned above the Intersection of West 43rd Street and Broadway, the pedestrian walkway in the heart of New York City’s Bowtie district. It is located just north of Times Square, at the 42nd Street subway station, the busiest station in the country. Over 450 million people pass through Times Square annually and in excess of 100 million people use the Times Square subway station. Over 57 million people pass through the Port Authority Bus Terminal each year.
The firearm industry leads the way in creating safer communities through proven partnerships with law enforcement, elected officials and community leaders.
The Real Solutions. Safer Communities family of safety programs include:
Project ChildSafe® – NSSF’s partnership with over 15,000 law enforcement agencies in all 50 states and five U.S. territories for 25 years that has distributed over 41 million free firearm safety kits, including locking devices. This simple safe storage option is in addition to the free lock included in every firearm shipped from the factory, which brings the total to over 100 million… and counting.
Operation Secure Store® – a partner program with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Department of Justice (DOJ) to proactively help firearm retailers identify security improvements to deter and prevent robberies and burglaries of gun stores.
Don’t Lie for the Other GuyTM – Another ATF and DOJ partner program to warn the public of the federal crime of attempting to illegally straw purchase a firearm for someone who is a prohibited individual or doesn’t want to be associated with the sale of a firearm. The Don’t Lie public awareness efforts warn that the crime of illegally straw purchasing a firearm carries up to a 15-year prison sentence and a $250,000 fine.
FixNICS® – NSSF’s initiative to improve the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) by ensuring all states and federal agencies submit all disqualifying records to FBI NICS. Since FixNICS was launched, the law has been improved in 16 states and in Congress, resulting in a 305 percent increase to 6.8 million in 2023 from just 1.7 million in 2012 of disqualifying records submitted to the FBI.
Suicide Prevention – The firearm industry and American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) developed a suicide prevention toolkit to help firearms retailers, shooting range operators and customers understand risk factors and warning signs related to suicide, know where to find help and encourage secure firearms storage options. AFSP and the firearm industry have also partnered with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on a secure firearm storage toolkit designed to help prevent suicide among veterans. NSSF launched BraveConversation.org to provide the information to help prevent the tragedy of suicide.
About The National Shooting Sports Foundation
NSSF is the trade association for the firearm industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of thousands of manufacturers, distributors, firearm retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s organizations, and publishers nationwide. For more information, visit nssf.org
