Children and Guns

Children and Guns
Most gun owners are aware of the basic rules of gun safety and many are aware of the Eddie Eagle program that teaches young children what to do if they find a gun. Stop. Don’t touch. Leave the area. Get an adult. This works and needs to be taught to all young children.
Even if you don’t own a gun, you owe it to your children to teach them the basics of gun safety. We can’t supervise our kids constantly and the older they get the more freedom and independence they are allowed. You have no idea where they may encounter a gun and they need to know what to do when that happens.
The best way to ensure they don’t get into trouble with a gun is to put one in their hands. Find a qualified instructor, take them to the range, let them learn about guns, hold a gun and fire a gun under supervision. Many us can remember our father’s taking us outside and shooting a tomato or watermelon to show us how a gun can destroy. It’s a visual image that tends to stick. Allowing a child to feel the kick of a gun helps to take the mystery out of it.
Teach them never to point a firearm at something unless they intend to destroy it, that all guns are always loaded, always! Teach them to respect firearms even if it is just a BB gun. Teach them that firearms are not toys, but tools. That once that trigger is pulled, there is no calling the bullet back.
Don’t hide your firearms thinking they’ll never find them. Show them the firearms you own. Allow them to shoot the firearms under supervision. Teach them that if they ever want to shoot the firearm, that it’s ok as long as they ask you first and are supervised.
There are many dangers our children must face in this world. We can’t keep them safe by ignoring them or trying to shelter them. We can however educate them. From dangers associated with driving, especially while drinking, to drug use, to unprotected sex, our children are more educated in these areas than we ever were. Unfortunately, more and more children are ignorant about firearms and this puts them at risk. What they don’t know can hurt them. Talk to your children today about firearms. Give them the information they need to be safe.

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