241 FW 11, Gun Lock Devices, Fish and Wildlife Service Manual, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

241 FW 11
Gun Lock Devices

Supersedes Director’s Order 96, 08/18/97

Date: December 11, 2007

Series: Occupational Safety and Health

Part 241: Safety Operations

Originating Office: Division of Safety and Health

11.1 What is the purpose of this chapter? This chapter establishes Service policy concerning child safety locking, or gun lock, devices.

11.2 What is the scope of this chapter? This chapter applies to:

A. Anyone we authorize to carry a firearm for official use, and

B. Each individual firearm that we own, have seized, or issue to employees (also see 442 FW 1).

11.3 What is the policy?

A. We must issue a child safety lock (gun lock) for every individual firearm, including handguns and shoulder fired weapons (shotguns and rifles), that we own, have seized, or issue to employees.

B. When not routinely carrying or using their Service-issued firearms, employees must secure them for storage using the issued child safety lock.

C. A gun box used for storing firearms is not a locking device; its use does not satisfy the requirements of this policy.

11.4 What is a child safety lock? A child safety lock is:

A. A device that prevents a firearm from being discharged without first deactivating or removing the device by using a key or mechanically, electronically, or electro-mechanically operated combination lock; or

B. A locking mechanism incorporated into the design of the firearm that prevents discharge of the weapon by anyone not having access to a key or other specially designed device.

11.5 Who is responsible for this policy?

A. Assistant Directors and Regional Directors must ensure compliance with this policy for the areas for which they are responsible.

B. Project Leaders, Managers, and Supervisors responsible for firearms must:

(1) Obtain and issue a child safety lock with instructions for each individual firearm, including handguns and shoulder fired weapons (shotguns and rifles), that we own, have seized, or issue to employees.

(2) Ensure that those firearms we own that have not been issued or assigned to an employee are stored and secured with a locking device.

For information on the content of this chapter, contact the Division of Safety and Health. For information about this Website, contact Krista Holloway in the Division of Policy and Directives Management.

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