Firearms/Gun Safety

According to the National Safe Kids Campaign, "unintentional shootings account for nearly 20 percent of all firearm-related fatalities among children ages 14 and under, compared with 3 percent for the entire U.S. population." More than half of these accidents occur in children age 10-14. These are sad statistics, especially so because they are completely preventable. Although the most obvious way to protect your child from an accidental shooting is to simply not have a gun in the home, it is wise to inform your child of the potential dangers of firearms, and teach them what to do if they encounter a gun.

Tips for keeping your child safe:

• Teach your child early on that guns are dangerous weapons, and are not toys.
• Store guns unloaded in a locked and inaccessible cabinet.
• Store ammunition in a separate place.
• Keep gun storage keys and combinations hidden and inaccessible to children.
• Use additional safety devices, such as trigger locks.
• Never clean, load or unload your gun(s) while a child is present.
• Call the police department to dispose of guns or ammunition.
• Teach your child to never touch a gun without adult permission and supervision. If an adult is not present, teach your child to call 911.
• Enroll your teen in a gun safety course if there is an interest in shooting sports, such as hunting, etc.