Child Gun Safety
- One child dies every nine hours in a gun accident or suicide (NCHS/CDC)
- Over the past decade, more than 5,000 kids have died in firearms accidents (NCHS/CDC)
- 16,298 kids were injured by firearms in a single year (NEISS/AIP)
- 30% of all handguns are stored unlocked and loaded (NIJ)
- 22 million kids in the U.S. live in a house with a firearm (Rand Report)
- 40% of American households with children have guns (Hart Research)
- Two-thirds of students in grades 6 – 12 said they could acquire a firearm within 24 hours (Harvard SPH).
Many gun owners have small children either residing in the household or visiting on a regular basis. The reality is, if there is a gun in the house, your child or grandchild most likely knows where the gun is at. Don’t be fooled into thinking you have hidden it in a place they would never think to look.
You should educate your children about the guns and teach them the dangers associated with them. Children are curious and the lure of the unknown can be the deciding factor between whether a child “plays” with a gun or leaves it alone. The time we invest in securing guns in our household and in educating our children could make all the difference in preventing accidents involving guns.
General Gun Safety
There is no greater responsibility than providing for the safety and security of your home and family. Many people purchase a handgun, rifle or shotgun. A few basic but very important rules are listed below:
Always keep the gun unloaded until you are ready to use it. If you do not know how to check to see if the gun is loaded, leave it alone making sure it is pointed in a safe direction until someone who knows how to check it can ensure it is unloaded.
Always keep the gun pointed in a safe direction. Whether you are shooting or simply handling a gun, never point it at yourself or others.
Always keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot. When holding a gun, rest your trigger finger on the outside of the trigger guard alongside the gun until you are ready to fire. This will prevent any accidental discharges of your gun.
Do not point your gun at anything you are not willing to destroy or kill.
Remember gun safety starts at home