When it comes to keeping firearms in the home, many Americans tend to have a fairly cavalier attitude. We are well known for being comfortable around them, perhaps as a result of our frontier past, and we don’t always think of them as the deadly tools they can be if left around less gun-wise members of our family. The long and the short of it is that, when it comes to firearms, there is no wiggle room when it comes to safety—any reputable gun shop in Olathe, KS will agree.
Here are five important things you should consider when keeping a gun in your home:
- Is it where I can get it if I need it? The right to have guns for home and self-defense is a written into the Constitution, but it won’t do you any good if you can’t get to your gun when you need it. Intruders will not give you a chance to find a set of keys or enter a long combination into a safe. Instead, consider easy-access safes that allow a gun owner to get to the gun while keeping it secured when it’s not needed.
- Is my gun loaded? The answer to this question should always be “yes.” Whether your gun is physically loaded with a bullet in the chamber or not, you should treat it as though it is. NEVER point it in an unsafe direction or at another person under the assumption that it isn’t loaded. This is how innocent people become gun death statistics.
- Can your children get to your gun? Children and firearms are like magnets to one another. Little hands have a way of finding the things they see on TV and strapped to the hips of police officers. A gun should never be accessible to a child. Every year, there are reports of children accidentally shooting a sibling, friend or themselves. The saddest part is that these deaths are 100 percent preventable. Buy a safe and make sure it is locked at all times.
- Be aware of your surroundings: Whether it’s in the heat of a tense situation or packing your gun up for some range time, be aware of the direction your gun is pointing, even if it is unloaded. If it were to fire, would it hurt a member of your family? Bullets can easily cut through drywall and hit unintended targets.
- Teach the basics: When your family is ready, teach them gun safety and responsible gun handling. While this conversation is harder to have with children of very young ages, teens can be very receptive to the concepts of safe gun ownership. If you demystify the guns in your home, they are less likely to seek them out on their own.
It is important that you understand the responsibilities of gun ownership before visiting your local gun shop in Olathe, KS to make a new firearm purchase. For more information about guns, or to get answers to your questions, visit the team at Harrison Street Pawn. Ask to see our selection of new and used guns!