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| Gun Safety |
| Welcome to Gun Safety Guns have been in American homes since the founding of this country and continue to be used today. Uses for guns can be categorized into four areas: professions, recreation, security, and food gathering. In our homes we have kitchen knives and poisonous household cleaning products. Basic instruction and expectations for safe use of these tools is necessary. Likewise, everyone should know about gun safety and we owe it to children to teach them basic instruction, proper use, and what to do when they find a gun. Education helps reduce accidents. Fatal gun accidents among children decreased 64% between 1975 and 1995 as the result of proper gun safety and handling education. Approximately 54% of the households in the United States have guns in them. Over 30% of American households that have guns and children in them, keep a loaded gun in the home. Whether or not a family owns a gun, most children will come in contact with a gun at some time during their young lives. Relatives and neighbors own guns, often hidden or properly stored, but the possibility exists that children may still find them. Young people are curious about guns. Beginning with the time when you were first aware of images, you have been exposed to guns through cartoons, television programs, and movies. When should a child start learning about guns? It is recommended that teaching begin when the child begins to show curiosity about guns and wants to touch and hold them. If the child doesn't express any curiosity about guns, then it is up to the parent to decide when you want to start teaching about them. What should a child learn first about guns? 1) A child only holds or touches a gun if a parent or responsible adult is present and gives permission. 2) If no parent or responsible adult is present when a child sees a gun, they should: stop, don't touch, leave the area, tell an adult. These four steps are part of the Eddie Eagle Program which is a proven way to teach young children how to respond properly around guns. School and club materials for pre-K-1, 2-3, and 4-6th grade participants are available from the National Rifle Association. Parents should not make a gun an object of curiosity or a forbidden object. For safety considerations, a child's curiosity needs to be changed to knowledge and respect. Show as well as tell them what is right. Start with the Eddie Eagle rules. If a parent provides supervision, encouragement, training, and an opportunity to shoot, the child will learn to shoot correctly and safely rather than just learning unsafe practices from TV, movies, video games, and peer talk. When children desire to shoot a gun, parents should ensure that: 1) Children know the gun safety rules and how to apply them before they start shooting. 2) Adult supervision is important. Parents play a major role in helping their child learn the proper respect, use, and safety associated with a gun. This also builds self-esteem. Questions Parents and Babysitter's should ask. Most accidents associated with guns in a home can be prevented if a parent or babysitter asks questions about the presence of a gun in the household and about how the gun is stored. Occasionally, an improperly stored gun could be found by a child. When babysitting, a babysitter is the responsible person present and must know how to handle an improperly stored gun. When a child visits or sleeps over at a friend's home, the parents may want to ask a few of the same questions. What are the questions that should be asked? 1) Are there any knives, poisons, or guns in the house and are they stored properly? 2) What are the rules you have regarding the children using play as well as real knives and guns while I am babysitting here? 3) What do you want me to do if a gun is found? Gun Owners Responsibilities Most states impose some form of legal duty on adults to take reasonable steps to deny access by children to dangerous substances or instruments. It is the individual gun owner's responsibility to understand and follow all laws regarding gun purchase, ownership, storage, transport, etc. Contact your state police and/or local police for information regarding such laws. Store guns so that they are inaccessible to children and other unauthorized users. Gun shops sell a wide variety of safes, cases, and other security devices. While specific security measures may vary, a parent must, in every case, assesss the exposure of the firearm and absolutely assure that it is inaccessible to a child. More Safety Rules. 1) Always keep the gun pointed in a safe direction. 2) Always keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot. 3) Always deep the gun unloaded until ready to use. 4) Know your target and what is beyond. 5) Be sure the gun is safe to operate. 6) Know how to use the gun safely. 7) Use only the correct ammunition for you gun. 8) Wear eye and ear protection as appropriate. 9) Never use alcohol or drugs before or while shooting. 10) Store guns so they are not accessible to unauthorized persons. |
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