Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

ASHLAND, Ky. — Employees of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) are hoping to make a Merry Christmas for local youth whose families are going through hard times this holiday season.

ATF’s Louisville Division, which covers Kentucky and West Virginia, purchased Christmas toys this year for Safe Harbor of Northeast Kentucky, an emergency shelter and advocacy center that provides free confidential and supportive services to all domestic violence victims in Boyd, Greenup, Carter, Lawrence, and Elliott counties. Each year, Safe Harbor provides services to as many as 150 women and children.

“As we work with crime victims, we are especially aware of the harm domestic violence causes to families,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Shawn Morrow of the Louisville Division.

ATF’s mission is to protect the public from violent crime and 20 percent of all violent crime is categorized as domestic violence. Domestic violence abusers with access to a gun are five times more likely to kill their partners, according to the 2021 National Crime Victim Survey data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics.

“We want our communities to know ATF prioritizes violent crime and we are committed to helping all victims and survivors,” Morrow said.

The toys, which included a new basketball goal for the Ashland facility, were delivered to Safe Harbor of Northeast Kentucky on Dec. 21.

ATF is the lead federal law enforcement agency with jurisdiction regarding violent crime investigations involving firearms, arson, and explosives. More information about ATF and its programs is available at www.atf.gov.

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