Best Ways to Ensure Firearm Safety

All gun owners are charged with the awesome responsibility of following stringent gun safety rules. The primary purpose of the rules is to minimize or prevent death or injuries stemming from improper possession, handling, and storage of firearms. Many of these easy-to-follow rules employ commonsense tactics intended to greatly reduce the substantial risk of unintentional discharge.

National Rifle Association Safety Guidelines
All gun owners should remember that it is imperative to keep the trigger finger off the trigger until prepared to shoot. The NRA recommends always making sure the gun is unloaded until it is ready to be used. Anyone using a firearm must keep the gun pointed in a safe direction at all times. Protective eye and ear protection must be worn when shooting to help prevent injury. Assuming that a gun is always loaded saves lives.

Safety Education Plays a Key Role
Most states offer free or minimal fee hunter education classes for all ages. These classes are designed to impart the basic safety rules required for safe, smart gun ownership. Some classes are offered online in some states, but require class attendance and hands-on training to receive certification upon completion. Project ChildSafe is a gun-safety education program offered by the National Shooting Sports Foundation. The purpose of this program is to provide parents with some simple basic gun-safety tips for keeping their children safe. A child’s curiosity can spell disaster if firearms are left where children have access to them.

Children and Firearms
Kids must be taught respect guns from an early age. Because they see violence on television and encounter guns in video games, it is important to teach them that in real life guns hurt and kill people. It must be made clear to them that they are never to touch any kind of firearm. If they see one, they must understand that they should tell an adult immediately. Any parent who owns guns is responsible for keeping them out of sight and reach of children. Exercising good judgment can prevent tragic accidents from claiming lives.

Importance of Security
All guns must be stored, unloaded, in a locked location away from children. It is essential that all guns are equipped with effective gunlocks that are 100 percent child-resistant. When a gun is not locked away in a box or safe, it must be kept in sight at all times. Ammunition should be stored in a location separate from firearms. Secure cases or safes must be equipped with a key lock or a combination. The keys or combination code should be kept in another secret secure location. Memorizing the combination for a locked safe is a smart idea for homes with children of any age. It could prove to be a lifesaving tactic that takes little time and effort.