Guns are dangerous, as has been witnessed in recent times following mass shootings. Although most gun deaths and injuries are due to suicide and assault, sometimes accidents happen that include children.
According to Everytown Research and Policy, between 2015 and December 2020, around 2,070 unintentional shootings were reported by children below 18 years, leading to 1,366 injuries and 765 deaths. Therefore as a parent, you need to take precautions, and there are things you can do to reduce accidental shootings,
Talk about gun safety with kids.
Guns are frequently shown in video games and media, which piques children’s sense of curiosity. However, most people are unaware of how dangerous weapons may be, and many are unable to determine whether a weapon is loaded.
Three out of ten Americans and four out of ten of them live in a home with a gun, per the Pew Research Center. Therefore, it is not shocking that 34% of US youngsters reside in a household with at least a single gun. Although it is advised that ammo be locked away from weapons when stored, less than 50% of US households with both kids and firearms follow this advice.
Steps to consider on gun safety
Always lock the firearm and the ammo separately if you have a kid inside your house and own a gun. Additionally, ensure that your kid is not aware of how to unlock one or both of them. Children are more knowledgeable than most adults.
You should consider firearm safety if your kid attends play dates at other kids’ houses. Many individuals find it awkward to inquire because they fear it will be perceived as an infringement of their privacy or being judgemental. But it is none of them. It’s just basic safety.
The ideal way of doing it is to make a routine with some questions to ask before your kid visits someone’s home. For example, you can ask who will supervise them, if there are pets, if anybody smokes, or if there is a pool and related questions.
