A new app helps people keep guns safe

SIOUX FALLS, SD (Dakota News Now) – The South Dakota Military Heritage Coalition has launched a new program to help gun owners improve safety for gun owners.

The program is called Keep Me One and is open to everyone, not just veterans.

Gun safety is a top priority in the union.

Whether it’s showing people how to properly use a gun or helping with a range of other services, such as counseling or financial assistance.

Brian Phelps is the executive director of the South Dakota Military Heritage Alliance in Sioux Falls, and says the Shop My Gun program can be used for a number of purposes.

“People who are going through different things in their lives, whether it’s grandkids coming home, kids coming home, maybe they’re on medication where they’re feeling a little bit of self-doubt and metal health issues.” said Brian Phelps, executive director of the South Dakota Military Heritage Alliance.

Veteran suicide prevention is also a contributing factor.

“We’re losing twenty-two veterans a day, and that’s totally unacceptable, so they need some kind of resource that they can rely on and be able to keep their things,” said Nick Wantin, assistant manager of the Heritage Alliance. military in South Dakota.

While there are other gun safe programs around the country, the union says they wanted to do more to offer support.

“We take it a step further in that we provide it for you, we offer cleaning, we offer maintenance, and we offer a place to come and talk,” Wantin said.

And with safety in mind, they wanted to make the process as accessible as possible.

“Just show up, talk to the guys at the gun range, they’ll walk you through the program. We’ve got a big warehouse and we’ve got a big range. So we can, whether it’s a handgun, whether it’s a rifle, or like I said , let’s take the whole collection you have,” Phelps said.

The Union is very happy to see the development and evolution of the program.

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