To keep your family safe, it is important to talk with each
family member - and especially children - about gun
safety. Even if you don't have a gun in your home, your
friends or neighbors might own guns.
And with a growing number of Americans choosing to own guns, it
is increasingly likely that your family members will eventually
come into direct contact with a gun.
With these facts in mind, here is some advice about gun safety
as well as the safe handling of guns.
Talking to your child about gun safety
It's
important to talk with your child about gun safety in case he or
she comes into a situation in which a gun is present. To guide a
child into making the right decision so that an accident does not
occur, the National Rifle Association (NRA) recommends teaching
your child to take the following four steps when in the presence of
a gun:
- Stop, Do Not Approach the Gun
- Do Not Touch the Gun
- Remove Yourself from the Area
- Tell an Adult
It's important to stress all four steps because just the first
two steps are not enough. Your child needs to remove him or herself
from the area in case another child gets a hold of the gun and
accidentally pulls the trigger. It has been shown that a child as
young as age three has the finger strength necessary to pull a
gun's trigger. Finally, it is important for the child to tell
an adult about the location of the gun. It's even better if the
adult knows how to safely handle a firearm.
Safety measures to take if you have a gun in your
home
Families who have guns in their home need to teach
family members, especially children, to use guns safely and
responsibly. To ensure the safest environment for your family:
- Take the ammunition out of the gun.
- Lock the gun and keep it out of the reach of children.
- Lock the ammunition and store it apart from the gun.
- Store the keys for the gun and the ammunition in an area
separate from where the household keys are stored. Keep the keys
out of reach of children.
- Lock up the gun-cleaning supplies, which are often
poisonous.
Finally, if you own a gun or have found one in your home and
want to dispose of it, call your local police department (but do
not dial the emergency 911 phone number).