Accidental shootings have risen to become one of the top three causes of death for children in the United States. Over 13,000 children were injured by guns in 2015. Gun ownership is a right, but is is also our responsibility to make sure children are kept safe when there are guns in the home. Here are the top tips for keeping children safe.
Trigger Locks and Safes
When it comes to keeping children safe, there is no level of security that is too much. Every gun in the house should have a trigger lock. The key to the trigger lock should be on you, not kept where it can be found by a child. You should also consider getting a combination safe, like those from Southern California Security Centers, as an extra measure of security.
Make Sure Your Children Know What to Do
Some accidents occur because the child finds a gun on the street. Children should be taught that if they find a gun they should stop immediately. They should never touch a gun they find. It could accidentally go off. They should run away because of the risk of someone else touching the gun and making it go off. They should immediately tell a grown up. Make sure your child knows what to do if they find a gun.
Store Guns Unloaded
The safest way is to store your gun unloaded. You should also lock the bullets separately from the gun. It does not take long to load a gun. This is just one more layer of protection to help keep your kids safe. Small children often do not grasp how dangerous guns can be, especially when they see an adult handling a gun. The more difficult it is to access them, the less likely an accident will occur.
Teach Gun Safety
Hunting and sport shooting have low rates of injury. This is because gun safety is stressed in these activities. When the child is at an appropriate age and can grasp the responsibility of gun ownership, they should be properly instructed on its safe use and storage of a firearm.
It is possible to have guns in the home and keep children safe at the same time. It takes forethought and planning to provide the safest environment. This is one area where only the best will do, especially when it comes to keeping children safe.
