Gun violence is an unfortunate problem in America’s schools and, tragically, it’s been in the news so frequently, we’ve started to become desensitized to the terrifying news headlines. In just 18 years, there were nearly 300 incidents of active shooters in America. And, many lives are lost every year due to firearm accidents. It’s estimated that, in 2019, nearly 500 people were fatally shot in an accident. As a responsible gun owner, knowing how to keep your guns out of the wrong hands is a crucial step in preventing firearm-related tragedies in America.
STORE GUNS IN A SAFE
Gun violence in Utah
When it comes to reducing your liability, you will want to be able to prove that you did everything a reasonable person would do in order to prevent your guns from falling into the wrong hands. Therefore, one of the most effective ways you can reduce your liability is to store your guns in a gun safe. Gun safes have locks of every kind. However, the most effective locks are combination locks, or locks requiring a numerical code—just make sure you don’t write the code or combination down. Locks requiring a key are less effective because you may lose the key, or leave it around the house.
KEEP YOUR GUN IN THE SAME PLACE
The best part about keeping your gun in the same place is that you always know where it is. And, since guns are dangerous weapons, especially if they’re in the wrong hands, you should always know where they are. If you have people over, you should make sure that your guns are put away. A lot of people have not gotten the education they need in order to handle firearms safely. For this reason, unless you know for a fact that your guests know how to handle guns safely, you should always keep your guns out of sight when you have company—especially when the guests are children.
STORE YOUR GUNS UNLOADED
Gun violence in Utah
If you’re not using your gun for home defense, you should store it unloaded. If you’ve decided to take a break from shooting and have lunch, you should unload your gun while you’re not using it. Though it may seem unnecessary, it’s a small measure of protection you can take against firearm accidents, and only takes a second or two. If you have concerns about your child and guns, you may want to store your ammunition separately from the gun. Even if you’ve got your guns locked up in a safe, you may want to lock your ammunition up in a separate location—especially if you’re concerned about your children accessing your guns.
EDUCATE YOUR CHILDREN
Educating your children on firearms may be another way to protect them against firearm accidents. Teaching children who are too young to simply not touch any firearms under any circumstance may be a good way to prevent them from becoming injured by a firearm. If you have guns around your older children, make time to teach them about how to properly handle a gun. Being a good example for your children is a good way to make sure they don’t accidentally injure themselves or others while using a firearm. Education will also help to keep them safe if they come across a gun somewhere else.
STORE YOUR GUNS OFFSITE
Gun violence in Utah
If you are really concerned about your child having access to guns, or believe that your child may consider using a gun to harm themselves or someone else, the best thing you can do is to store your firearms in a location other than your home. This may mean that you store your guns in a storage facility, or at the home of a trusted family member or friend. Alternatively, you could decide not to have guns in the home at all until your child moves out of the house, or has demonstrated that they do not pose a threat to themselves or the safety of others.
YOU TOO CAN HELP PREVENT GUN VIOLENCE AND ACCIDENTS
Everyone has the ability to make an impact on firearm accidents and tragedies in America. With such high rates of gun violence, active shooters, and firearm accidents, gun owners are morally obligated to ensure their weapons are stored properly and kept far away from the reach of anyone who may accidentally, or otherwise, harm themselves or others. With proper education and precaution, we can all work together to solve America’s problem with gun violence as well as accidental shootings. If you have been the victim of an injury due to a negligent gun owner, don’t hesitate to contact Moxie Law Group today. Our experienced team is dedicated to fighting for the compensation you deserve after tragedy strikes. If you’re ready to file your claim, contact Moxie Law Group for a free consultation.
