RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina's top public safety official and representatives from the national office of

Project ChildSafe

announced Monday that 503,500 free gun locks will be distributed to law-enforcement agencies in the state to help make homes with firearms safer.

Bryan Beatty, secretary of the

Department of Crime Control and Public Safety,

made the announcement surrounded by members of state and local law enforcement agencies on the steps of the state Capitol building.

"This project is important to law enforcement, but it is essential for the safety of many North Carolina families," Beatty said. "Gun owners are responsible for ensuring their weapons are safely stored so that children cannot get to them. Using a gun lock is one of the smartest things you can do."

North Carolina general statute 14-315 requires that adults in homes with residents younger than 18 must store firearms so that a minor cannot gain access to them. Allowing a minor to gain access to a firearm without adult permission is a misdemeanor.

Project ChildSafe is a national program supported by a $50 million grant from the

U.S. Department of Justice.

The goal is to provide 20 million free gun locks and firearm safety educational materials to families in all 50 states, the five U.S. territories and the District of Columbia.

"I applaud the U.S. Department of Justice for their support of this program and encourage everyone in North Carolina to secure their weapons properly," Beatty said.

Project ChildSafe will be in North Carolina through the month of February distributing the gun locks to various police and sheriff departments. The list of local agencies that have the gun locks available for citizens will be listed on the

Project webpage.