The US ranks #1 on the list of civilian gun-owning countries; we’ve got 120.5 firearms per 100 residents, which is more than double the 2nd place country! In case you’re wondering, that spot goes to Yemen, which has just 52.8 guns per 100 residents.
While it’s common for Americans to have guns, not everyone knows how to handle them safely. We all start out as newbies, after all!
If you’re about to purchase a gun or have recently bought one, then keep reading. Here are 5 gun safety tips you should know.
1. Treat All Firearms Like They’re Loaded
Even if you know you haven’t put any bullets into a gun, you should treat it as if it were loaded. This is at the top of the list for gun safety rules! You never know if someone’s tampered with it, or perhaps you forgot to take one out of the chamber.
It’s better to exercise extreme caution than to accidentally shoot a firearm.
2. Keep Your Finger off the Trigger
While handling your guns, always keep your finger off the trigger. This goes for when you’re lining up a shot as well, as you never know if you’ll unintentionally pull the trigger.
Only put your finger there when you’re ready to fire the weapon.
3. Never Point Your Gun Anywhere Other Than the Target
You might think it’s funny to point the gun at your friend as a joke, but don’t do it! Again, you want to treat all firearms as if they’re loaded.
You might think, “my finger’s off the trigger, so it’s fine.” However, anything can happen, and you don’t want to shoot your friend by accident!
It’s best to only point at the thing you’re targeting, and only that.
4. Keep Your Gun Unloaded Until Use
It can be a pain to unload your gun and put it away, then reload it for use. But it can save a life!
This ensures that if anyone grabs the weapon, they won’t be able to harm anyone or themselves.
5. Store Your Firearms in a Safe Place
When not in use, your guns should be stored in a safe place. We highly recommend firearm safes that have locks and/or combinations like those from Knowell’s Lock and Safe.
You need to also store the keys in a hidden spot. It should be high enough so children in the house can’t find them.
Make sure to store ammunition in a separate safe too. That way, if someone gains access to one safe, they can’t automatically fire your guns.
Follow These Gun Safety Tips
Owning a firearm is a huge responsibility, so make sure you look out for everyone by following these gun safety tips.
And if anyone else in your household handles guns, it’s worth sharing this information with them. Going over these firearm safety rules helps confirm that everyone is on the same page.
If you found these firearm safety tips helpful, then keep reading our blog page now.
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