If you own firearms and keep them in your home, chances are you already follow your own set of storage and safe handling procedures. Or maybe you’re planning a visit to a gun shop like Harrison Street Pawn, but have never owned a gun before. Fear not—owning and keeping guns and ammunition in Olathe, KS begins with having a mindset of how important gun safety is and trusting your common sense. Here are some factors to consider:
- Gun storage: When at home, your firearms should always be kept in a secure area, especially if children are around. A solid gun safe, lockbox or gun lock can help to prevent a firearm from falling into the hands of children or potential thieves. In addition to keeping it locked up, a gun should never be kept loaded. Depending on the type of gun you own, dropping or improperly handling a loaded gun can result in an accidental discharge. And when traveling to or from the shooting range, your gun should be unloaded and placed in a locked case. Failing to unload a gun could result in an accidental discharge.
- Ammunition storage: A gun is only as good as the ammo that goes into it. If you are like many responsible gun owners and store your ammunition in a safe or closet, it is critical that ammo be kept dry. Corroded ammo can lead to malfunctions and misfires that could be dangerous to you and those around you. Also be careful to make sure the ammunition is right for your firearm. For example, if you own an older .38 caliber pistol, using a .38 +P round could be dangerous.
- Ammunition safety: If you purchased your gun for home defense, you need to consider the type of ammunition you rely on. Think about your home’s layout and what is at risk should your shot over-penetrate. Are your children sleeping behind the wall at the end of the hallway? How far would a round travel if you missed your target? Consider making changes like trading high velocity slugs for buckshot, or +P rounds for standard rounds.
- Shooting safety: It’s important to be familiar with your gun and its safety features, and as mentioned, when it comes to pulling the trigger, consider where that bullet will go. Think carefully about the backstops at the range or what might be behind the walls of your house in a home defense situation. When it comes to handling, unless you intend to use your gun to defend yourself, never point a firearm at another person.
Every year in Kansas, and across America, people are seriously injured or killed in shooting accidents that could have been prevented with the proper handling of guns and ammunition in Olathe, KS. So as a gun owner in Kansas, remember that safety is a must—not just for you, but also for the safety of your family and others. A gun does not have a mind of its own and it doesn’t know if it’s putting someone in harm’s way—gun safety is your responsibility. Contact Harrison Street Pawn today to learn more about safe practices for gun owners.