| Guns can be a great pleasure to own and operate, but also carry a great responsibility to the owners for the safety and well being of all people who come into a home where guns are owned. The NRA has some simple safety rules that will help protect you from accidental discharge, injury, or even death. To own a gun is a responsibility and if you choose to have one, then you must be certain to keep others safe, especially children. You must have a safe, inaccessible place to store the gun such as a gun safe, but you still need to educate children about guns and general gun safety.
If you have guns or are considering purchasing one, then you must educate your children and yourself on proper gun safety. You should start by explaining the differences between a real gun and a toy gun. It might be helpful for young children to show them a target and what the gun does, then explain that if the gun is fired, it will do that to whatever it is pointed at. Older children can be taught how to handle a gun safely, and younger children should be taught not to touch guns. The NRA recommends the phrase “Stop, Don't touch, leave the area, Tell an Adult.” Go through these steps carefully with any children that may be exposed to guns. You might have them practice doing this with a toy gun, so they will know what to do if they ever find a gun. It is also advisable to refrain from letting small children watch television that portrays guns in an unsafe way or where people are shot. The children don't always understand that TV is not real, so when the hero survives, they assume guns aren't so dangerous. You must be particularly careful about educating small children to leave guns alone, and protect them from TV that might teach them it's OK to play with guns.
The three most important rules to handling guns safely are, point the gun in a safe direction, always keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot, and always keep the gun unloaded until it is ready to use. These three rules will help you handle guns safely and can be taught to older children, as well.
Always point the gun in a safe direction means that it isn't pointed anywhere near anyone EVER! Not only does it mean not to point it at people, but pets, houses, or anywhere people might be. Outside, you should only point the gun at the ground or at the target. Indoors, you should also be aware that walls and ceilings might have people on the other side of them and point the gun appropriately. It is imperative that guns are never handled in a casual way and that they be pointed in a safe direction at all times.
Always keeping your finger off the trigger is an excellent way to avoid accidental discharge of a firearm. Just as you must always point the gun in a safe direction, you must keep your fingers away from the trigger until it is time to fire the gun. You can rest your finger along the barrel of the pistol or gun to keep it well away from the trigger, and reduce the chance of bumping it accidentally.
Always keep the gun unloaded until ready to use means you don't store or transport guns that are loaded. Make sure the gun is unloaded by visually checking the chamber and removing any ammunition or clips from the firearm when not in use and when transporting them to and from activities. Something else to remember is that the rules above apply with equal force even if the gun is unloaded.
Store your guns in a safe, locking them up when not in use, and make sure the children don't know where the key is kept. Teach your children what to do if they find a gun and teach older children how to use one safely. Owning a gun is a big responsibility both morally and legally. Protect yourself and your family with proper education. |
GUN SAFE GUIDE
