Childproofing

We make sure we childproof our stairs by putting up a gate. We childproof our outlets by plugging in outlet covers. We do all of this to protect our children from injuring themselves. Along the same lines it only makes sense that a responsible firearm owner would also childproof their firearm.

Childproofing a firearm should be done whether the firearm owner has children or not. A person never knows when a child or someone who is unfamiliar with firearm might be on their premises. You never know when a friend might bring his or her children over or perhaps a relative from out of town could come visit bringing along their children.

The best way to protect a child or someone who is unfamiliar with a firearm is to make sure that your firearm is stored unloaded. You will also want to make sure that you use both a firearm safety device along with storing the firearm in a locked container. Another important step to take to make sure that you store the ammunition separately from the firearm, but also in a locked container.

Making sure your firearm is stored in a secure manner is always the best way of childproofing your firearm. However, children are very curious beings so not only is it important to store your firearm properly it is equally important to choose the proper place with which you are going to store your firearm.

For example, do not leave your locked storage container with your firearm inside of it laying around your house. As children get older and more curious they get better at opening things they know they don’t belong in. So when choosing a place to store your firearm the following things in mind:

• Do not leave your firearm out where it can be seen even when it’s in a locked container.
• Storing your firearm in your closet, under a pillow or mattress, or near a bedside table are not very good options.
• If you have several firearms it might be a good idea to store most of those firearms in a locked facility away from your home. One option could be a storage locker. Just make sure that no matter where you store your firearms that they are in a locked container.
• Whatever location you choose to store them be sure that the ammunition and firearm are not easily accessible by a child.

Owning a firearm comes with a lot of responsibility. You are responsible for not only knowing how to shoot the firearm safely, clean the firearm safely, but also, and just as important is where to store the firearm and ammunition safely to keep away from children and/or someone who is unfamiliar with how to handle a gun.

Guns by themselves are not necessarily dangerous, but if it found by someone who does not know how to handle one properly someone could get hurt. As the owner of a firearm you do not want to be the one responsible for an accident that could’ve been prevented had you just stored it safely and properly.