Guns used for protection can be very useful in defending you and your family from intruders. Many families own one or more guns for protection or hunting.
Unfortunately, kids are very curious creatures. In this aspect, guns can have the potential to harm them more than protect them. They might not be aware of the real dangers a gun can pose. Also, death or a horrible injury can seem impossible to a child. They often feel as though they are resilient and sometimes even invincible.
The first step to family gun safety is getting the curiosity about the weapon out of the way. Let your children know there is one in your home and why. Educate them on why the gun is useful, what it does, etc. You want to cover everything –who, what, where, why, and how. Give them a chance to ask as many questions as they need to, and answer them all. Let them know that they should never touch it for any reason, that a gun is a very dangerous weapon, although it may simply look like a piece of metal. If they want to know anything about it, they can just ask you. This is dangerous, and can injure someone badly and even kill. (If you don’t want to go that far in detail with your child, don’t. I am just offering some advice on how to talk to them about it).
What you want to come out of this conversation is to eliminate any and all curiosities they might have about guns.
Other steps in gun safety:
1. Buy a gun lock and use it.
2. Keep the gun unloaded.
3. Keep the ammunition in a different place than the gun.
4. Keep both the gun and bullets in a hidden place that only you know about.
5. Keep the key for the gun lock hidden as well.
You can also get more information about gun safety from your local police station or fire department. You could even get a police officer to come to your home to educate your children on guns and gun safety. Just ask!
Stay Safe!