When a parent brings a child into the world, that person is solely responsible for the safety of the child. This becomes even more true if the parent has a gun in the home.
A parent who is willing to learn, practice, and teach proper gun safety rules will ensure their child’s safety to a much greater extent than a parent who chooses not to.
Parents must also remember that children have very short-term memories so repetition of safety concepts is key.
Even if there is no gun present in your own home odds are high that your child will encounter a firearm at some point. There are guns present in approximately one-half of U.S. homes and it is crucial to your child’s safety that he or she know how to respond in the event a firearm is encountered.
Parents should begin gun safety talks as soon as the child begins to show interest in guns, even the toy variety.
There is no specific way to talk to your child about firearms, but simply telling them not to touch the gun is not enough.
Such a statement will likely only stimulate their inherent curiosity. It is better to be open and honest with your child about the harm and danger involved with guns.
If your child owns a toy gun experts advise that you teach the child proper gun handling procedures as a precaution.
A small child may not know the difference between a toy and a genuine firearm if they see one in real life.Parents should also utilize the NRA’s GunSafe Program.
This program involves four basic steps a child should know should they find a gun. The child should stop, refrain from touching the fun, leave the area, and tell an adult.
A child familiar with this program could mean the difference between an accident averted and a tragedy.
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