LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Louisville Metro police are asking gun owners to save a spent shell casing from each of their firearms, part of a new program they say could help recover stolen weapons and solve crimes.

LMPD is launching Save-A-Casing, a voluntary initiative aimed at helping gun owners protect their property and assist law enforcement in recovering firearms if they are ever lost or stolen.

Under the program, gun owners are encouraged to legally fire two shells from each of their firearms, place the spent casings in an envelope marked with the gun’s make, model, and serial number. They keep the envelope at home, separate from the firearm, until it’s needed.

"You would be able to turn those into police when you make a report, and that information would be entered into the (National Integrated Ballistic Information Network) system, where we generate leads for anything that is crime gun intelligence related," said LMPD Lt. Joseph Fox.

LMPD emphasizes that the program is not mandatory. It does not function as a gun registration system, nor does it collect personal identifying data at the time of participation. Participation is purely voluntary, and the department says it’s designed to help law-abiding owners and improve public safety.

"Having this ballistic data on file is key to generating quick and accurate information and generating leads when we have things that are related to violent crime, to homicides, to shootings, to things that precipitate those," Lt. Fox said.

LMPD is partnering with Next Level Range in Louisville to offer free range time for legal gun owners to save a casing.

"I think it's a great idea," said Corey Bowlin, who frequents Next Level Range.

Bowlin shares with LMPD in a belief that the Save-A-Casing program is a proactive approach to policing, especially given that the ATF reports nearly 5,000 firearms are stolen in Kentucky annually.

"There's so many weapons getting stolen from peoples' vehicles and houses and getting on the street in the hands of people that don't need to have them," Bowlin said. "So, anything we can do to help law enforcement fight that is great."

The event is Saturday, September 27, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. It is free of charge. Next Level Range is located at 11800 Electron Drive in Louisville.

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