Do you know where your guns are? If there’s a possibility that a child could access a firearm without your permission, you need to take immediate steps to secure that weapon.
There have been several stories in the news in recent months in which a child has fatally shot someone because they were able to access a handgun.
In the Car
Two recent stories of toddlers finding guns in the car and shooting the driver gripped the firearms community. If you’re carrying on your body, use a holster that allows you to sit comfortably in the car but also access your firearm should you need it.
There are options for mounted holsters, but only use these if they secure the firearm from access by an unauthorized person. If you get out of the car, even for less than a minute, a child can find and use that gun.
Before you carry a gun in your vehicle, know the laws in your state. Although gun laws vary depending where you are, it is important to keep your gun secure. Allowing a child to access your gun is not only against the law, it can result in tragedy. Putting a gun under the seat doesn’t count as secure.
At Home
Home is where you relax, so it takes discipline to keep control of firearms at home. Use safes and locks for firearms that aren’t always in your control.
If it’s there, kids will find it. They search the house for anything fun, and if you keep a firearm in a place that they can get to, even with a little exploring, they could cause serious damage.
When You’re Not Around
Anyone, whether they are gun owners or not, should talk to their children about what to do when they see a gun. Acting like guns don’t exist actually puts children in more danger.
The rules are simple. Leave the gun where it is and go tell an adult. Tell children that if they see someone, even another child, holding a gun they should leave immediately.
Make an effort to remove the mystery around firearms and instead instill a healthy respect and fear of the power firearms have. Guns aren’t anything to be scared of, but we should all respect the power they have to cause deadly damage.
If your child wants to learn more about guns, that’s a great chance to teach them respect and how to treat firearms safely.
These tragic incidents remind us how important it is to keep your firearms secure. As a gun owner, it is your responsibility to keep your firearms away from people who should not have access to them, including small children.
