Gun ownership comes with a lot of responsibility. You have to shoulder safety along with your weapon. Your trusted gun shop in Olathe, KS respects this and wants to help you and your children stay safe. Use the following guidelines for gun safety to protect yourself and your loved ones:
- Remove the mystery: Many kids are fascinated by guns. Due to their prominence on TV and in movies, kids often find them mysterious and alluring but have no idea how they work. A gun’s use in a film may be completely unrealistic or unsafe. Take the time to explain to your child how a gun works, the various parts and how it should be handled.
- Demonstrate their impact: Take your child to a shooting range. Show them the effect of a gun. It’s important that they see that it is different than playing with a toy gun. Blast away a melon or two. If you’re a hunter, show them the animals you bring home. They should learn the power that a gun holds—and the destruction it can cause—to properly respect it.
- Start slow: If you plan to teach your older child to handle guns, work up to it. Start with a BB gun. Even then, start with it unloaded. Make sure they can properly handle it and demonstrate good safety behavior before allowing them to load it. As they learn more about guns and their proper care, they can grow into a safe relationship with guns.
- Keep guns secured: Kids are drawn to what’s forbidden. Even if you’ve made it clear that they are not to touch any gun in the house, this doesn’t guarantee their safety. Often, adults store guns loaded and unlocked. This is unsafe. Also, be absolutely certain kids cannot gain access to them when you aren’t around. Inevitably, they will find them and get their hands on them if they can.
- Check on their friends: Even if you have established proper gun safety in your own home, this doesn’t mean your child won’t be exposed to unsafe conditions elsewhere. Ask them about their friends’ homes. Inquire whether they have guns at their houses. Ask if any of their friends has ever shown them a gun, or claimed to have access to one. Remain vigilant about what your kids are exposed to.
- Model safe behavior: Your kids look to you for cues. Whether good or bad, they will model their behavior off of yours. This makes it essential to practice safe gun handling yourself. Of course, this includes never pointing a gun at something you don’t want to shoot. Even if you are sure it’s not loaded, pretend it is.
Ask the experts
If you would like more safety tips for you and your kids, ask the experts at Harrison Street Pawn. With many years of experience in gun sales and gun handling, we are happy to answer any questions you have. For safety tips and a great selection of supplies, stop in to your local gun store in Olathe, KS today.