Are Your Firearms Safely Stored from Children?By Francine Pratt | CPO Contributing Writer
Too many times we hear about a young person finding a loaded gun andinjuring others or themselves.The devastation for that adult who left the firearm in reach or the family who has to continue to live after such tragedies is devasting. Members of the Community Partnership of the Ozarks (CPO) Gun Safety and Violence Reduction collaborative talk to many youth and young adults ages 13 – 24. We hear them say that no one teaches them about gun safety. Or, we hear them say we are a hunting family and grew up with guns, so it is a non-issue for us. We have to ask the question, what happens when a friend comes to visit, and they did not grow up around firearms, so the visiting youth does not understand gun safety issues. Or, what happens when a young person does not know the differences between gun types and thinks all guns have safety mechanisms, but they don’t? Do you know that having a firearm safely secured can reduce the number of suicides by gun? If someone has to take time to unlock a gun cable or unlock a gun box, that can be just enough time to think about what they are doing and change their mind. There are safety tips available to share with children regarding firearms and there are steps adults can take to keep firearms stored safely. When a child is going to spend time in someone else’s house, many parents ask if a parent or adult will be home. They may call the adult to ensure adult supervision will be present. They may even ask if alcohol in the house is put away However, how many parents ask if they have firearms safely stored in their house? Moms Demand Action created a simple tool to use to remind everyone about gun safety:
• Secure all guns in your home and vehicles.• Model responsible behavior around guns.• Ask about the presence of unsecured guns in other homes.• Recognize the role of guns in suicide.• Tell your peers about S.M.A.R.T.
The Springfield Police Department provides the following information related to children and firearm safety. If your household contains firearms, please consider these safety tips:
• Make sure firearms are safely stored. This means unloaded, trigger locked, and in a locked gun safe, case, or pistol box with the ammunition locked away separately. Keys for the guns and ammunition should be located out of reach of children, away from the weapons and ammunition. Check frequently to make sure the items remain secure.• Make sure that your child knows what to do if they should find a firearm. They should not pick it up or even touch it. The child needs to tell an adult immediately.• Children should know that guns are not toys and that guns and other weapons can kill and injure people.• Make sure that children realize the difference between TV violence and reality.• Parents should know if firearms are present in homes their children frequent. If so, they need to make sure that the guns are secured while their children are there.• If firearms are used by your household for sporting purposes such as hunting, target shooting, etc., make sure that once your child has reached an age you feel is appropriate that they are familiar with every aspect of the firearms they will use. The child should know how they work and how to use them.• Handle all firearms as if they were loaded.• Always keep the firearm pointed in a safe direction.• Always be certain that your target and the surrounding area are safe before firing.• Whenever you handle a firearm, the first thing you should do (while keeping it pointed in a safe direction and with your finger off the trigger) is to open the action and see if the gun is loaded.• Be familiar with the weapon.• Make sure it is in good working order.• Use only ammunition recommended by the manufacturer.• Use good quality ear and eye protection.• Make sure firearms are secured while transporting them.• Treat the gun as if it were loaded at all times.• Never point it at anything you would not want to shoot.• Be sure of your target and what is behind it.• Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on the target.CPO website has more information about gun safety with several gun safety videos for several types of firearms.
