Firearm Safety: The Important Dos And Don’ts Of Enjoying Guns Safely

If you own a firearm in the US, you are certainly not alone. According to a survey conducted by Statista, 37 percent of households in the US own some kind of gun. While this is significantly lower than in 2018, where 43 percent of households owned guns, it is still a staggering figure.

As per the Small Arms Survey of 2018, for every 100 American citizens, there are 120.5 registered guns out there. In the race of most guns owned, the USA is clearly winning.

There are a lot of negative connotations attached to owning guns. People associate it with the increased rate of violence and suicide in the country.

While we cannot completely disregard the negative effects firearms have had on society, at the same time, they also ensure protection.

Not to mention that many gun enthusiasts purchase firearms for hunting as well. Regardless of why you buy a gun, unless you know how to handle it safely, you are a threat to yourself and those around you.

Here are the important dos and don’ts of firearms safety:

The Dos

Here are ways you should be safely enjoying a firearm.

1. Store it in a gun safe

Allocate a dedicated space for your weapon. Make sure that this space is hidden and unreachable to the children in your house. You will be surprised just how many accidents occur because children get access to their parent’s firearms.

When you store your gun, make a point to unload it and keep all the ammunition locked up in a separate location. It ensures that even if children get their hands on a gun, they can’t use it.

2. Install a trigger lock

Many people make the mistake of thinking that they are expert gun owners. Just because you have been trained on how to use guns, doesn’t mean you don’t need to take the required precautionary measures.

And one such measure is installing a trigger lock. Think of it as a golden rule of firearm safety. It helps in rendering the shooter incapable of pulling the trigger mistakenly. Again, misfires are very common. By adding a trigger lock, you can save those around you from fatal injuries.

3. Get trained professionally

Operating a firearm may seem easy, depending on the weapon you select. For instance, a handgun is most popular among the masses.

Considering how tiny the weapon is and how easy it is to discharge, you might think that you don’t need a professional training.

However, you cannot be more wrong.

Every gun owner needs professional training. There are various gun ranges all over the country where you can practice shooting. Law-enforcement agencies also routinely hold firearm training sessions and workshops.

You can also take part in these sessions and acquire firearm training. All you need to do is to look up for a course in your city. For example, if you live in Oklahoma City, you just have to search “firearms training in Oklahoma City,” and it will give you a list of all the upcoming training sessions.

Even if you are good at shooting, you should avail of such training to learn about firearm safety and maintenance.

4. Be aware of your surroundings

According to Instructables, a 0.22 gun can effectively travel over 1.5 miles. So, you can expect a more powerful gun to travel an even greater distance. Not to mention that such guns have the capability of penetrating heavy targets as well.

There are two things you must do. Firstly, know how far the bullets from your weapon can travel. Secondly, be well aware of your surroundings. And not just your immediate one. Instead, check your environment as far as the range of the weapon.

Know that a gun can also ricochet at times, even if you fire it in the air.

The Don’ts

Here are things you should never do if you own a gun.

1. Just simply hide your gun

Do you think putting your gun away at a high shelf or behind your bed is enough? It is not!

Unless your gun is behind a lock, in a safe, there will always be a probability that it falls into the wrong hands.

As per a survey conducted by Harvard, out of the 200 gun owners, 75 percent of children under 10 were aware of the location of the guns in their houses, and over 36 percent of kids under 14 said that they had handled guns.

Considering how easy it is for a gun to misfire or operate mistakenly, merely hiding it away is not a good solution.

2. Make it easy for your kids to hurt themselves

National Violent Death Reporting System reported that approximately 43 percent of US kids who commit suicide do so with a gun. By training your children early on regarding how to use a gun, you can make it harder for them to take their own lives.

Additionally, don’t rely on their judgment. Don’t think that just because you have told them about how to handle a gun safely, it is safe for you to leave your weapon lying around.

Unless an individual is of an age where they are mentally suitable to own a gun, don’t allow them to handle your firearm.

3. Point your gun aimlessly

It doesn’t matter if your gun is loaded or not. Sometimes, even when you unload a gun, a bullet remains in the gun chamber. This is why it is always advisable never to point your gun aimlessly at your surroundings.

Only point it at things you mean to shoot. Otherwise, keep your hands away from the firearm. In case you are standing on the ground, always point it downwards. But, if you are in a building, even doing so can threaten the lives of those below you.

4. Keep your finger on the trigger all the time

Unless you are standing at a gun range and pointing at your target, don’t keep your finger at the trigger. It holds true even if you have a trigger lock or if your gun is unloaded.

This is because you never know when mechanical protections stop working. So, keep your finger away from the trigger unless you wish to shoot.

Ending remarks

Follow the dos and avoid the don’ts. If you do so, you can safely use your firearm. Good luck and be safe.

Author bio

Andrea Bell is a blogger by choice. She loves to discover the world around her. She likes to share her discoveries, experiences and express herself through her blogs. You can find her on Twitter:@IM_AndreaBell