Children often can’t tell the difference between a real gun and a toy, and many toddlers may be strong enough to pull the trigger on a real gun. Here are some things you can do to keep yourself and your family safe.
- Teach children to assume that all guns are real.
- Make sure they understand that realistic “toy” guns, such as Airsoft, are very real looking and can cause serious injury.
- Teach children that they shouldn’t touch guns and that if they see a gun, to leave it alone and tell an adult.
- If your children play at another home, talk to the parents about gun safety.
- Treat every gun as if it were loaded.
- Always store guns unloaded.
- Lock guns in a rack or safe, and hide the keys or combination.
- Store ammunition away from guns and keep it locked.
- Don’t keep guns in your home if someone in your family has a mental illness, severe depression, or potential for violence.
- Explain to children the difference between what they see in video games or movies and reality; people really die after being shot with a gun. Using a gun is serious and dangerous
- If you decide that you no longer need to have a firearm in your home, dispose of it in a safe way. Consult with law enforcement in your community on how to do so.
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