Being a gun owner isn’t all fun and games. More than 90% of all gun-related deaths involve a weapon that wasn’t fired, and safe storage can mean the difference between life and death. Even though it might be a point of contention between people, there’s nothing wrong with guns, especially in the hands of a responsible owner.  

1. Keep guns unloaded and locked away

Many people own guns and keep them for self-protection; but sometimes the gun is forgotten in a drawer or on a shelf. That’s why an accidental shooting happens so often. If you have a child, they might find the gun and play with it causing an injury or even death. This is why it’s important to keep guns unloaded and locked away with ammunition stored separately.

2. Keep keys and combinations hidden

A safest way to keep your gun secured when you’re out and about is to keep it in a gun safe. There are generally 2 kinds of gun safes. One is the more traditional box with lock and key and the other is the more high-tech version with a passcode / fingerprint recognition lock system. It doesn’t matter which one you have as long as you have one, this item is very important to have.

3. Never let children handle your guns

If you have children it is important to explain gun safety to them at an early age. Having a gun in the home increases the risk of an accident, such as a child finding the gun and hurting him or herself, so it is best that we keep all our guns unloaded in locked safe.

4. Double check to be sure your gun is clean

Possessing a gun presents the responsibility to maintain that gun in a clean and sanitary condition. We urge all firearm owners to double check that their weapons are properly clean to avoid jamming. After all, you only need the gun at opportune moments and when that moment comes, you better be ready for action.

5. Never shoot a gun without ear protection          

It is also important to protect yourself and not just the people around. If you don’t wear hearing protection, every shot you fire will damage your ears – and the louder the gun you’re shooting, the more your ears will suffer. You can wear just about anything when you are just practicing, from tactical vests to a graphic tee. However, ear protection is absolutely mandatory when shooting a gun. 

Conclusion

We can all agree — keeping kids safe is a good thing. And the debate about the best way to do this is clearly a matter of opinion. Many parents who aren’t gun owners and fear guns don’t know how to teach their children about responsible ownership and handling of firearms. But that doesn’t mean they don’t want their young ones to remain safe when they’re around guns. With guns in the news, we’re reminded to always be responsible when handling a firearm. As long as all gun owners maintain their firearm at peak condition and wear protective gear, guns shouldn’t be the cause of the problem.