| Millions of Americans currently keep guns in their | | | | The guns must not be accessible by anyone except |
| homes for hunting or self defense purposes. Many | | | | the adults living in the home. Even if the gun is |
| gun owners are outspoken proponents of gun | | | | unloaded and the safety is on, never point a gun at |
| ownership and gun rights, and appreciate the feeling | | | | anyone for fun, especially if your children are |
| of protection provided by their guns. Although a gun | | | | watching. Your finger should never touch the trigger |
| can give a sense of safety in the event of a street | | | | of a firearm unless you plan to fire it at that instant. |
| attack or home invasion, owning a gun also poses | | | | Every adult with access to the gun should enroll in a |
| many dangers in and of itself. Studies consistently | | | | class on proper ownership and use of a firearm. |
| show that guns kept inside the home are more likely | | | | Knowing as much as you can about your gun is the |
| to be used on a friend or family member than on an | | | | key to safety. All gun owners should know what it |
| intruder or criminal. The gun owner may inadvertently | | | | feels like to shoot their gun, including the effect of |
| shoot a perceived threat, not realizing that they have | | | | kickback, as well as the safety lock and other |
| been frightened by a family member, friend, or | | | | essential features. |
| acquaintance. This scenario is often referred to as | | | | If you cannot own it responsibly and use it |
| the "shooting the milkman" situation. A scared gun | | | | effectively, there is no reason to own a gun. In a self |
| owner may shoot first, before identifying the person. | | | | defense situation, many people would be too afraid |
| Tragically, this can lead to the accidental injury or | | | | to actually shoot the attacker. In this instance, it's |
| even death of a loved one. | | | | actually better not to pull out the gun at all. If you're |
| These dangers become compounded when there are | | | | not prepared to shoot, it becomes more likely that |
| children living in the home. Even if parents think the | | | | your attacker will grab your gun away from you. |
| guns are secured, it can be surprising what children, | | | | Pulling out a gun is also likely to escalate the situation |
| even young ones, can get into. Too many adults | | | | if you're confronted by an armed attacker. Waving |
| take for granted that young children will understand | | | | around a gun is not a sensible way to scare off an |
| the dangers of a gun. Unfortunately, news stories | | | | intruder in your home. Although you certainly have |
| about kids accidentally killing friends or siblings with a | | | | the right to keep and bear arms, you should carefully |
| gun they think is a toy show the true danger of guns | | | | consider the potential consequences of doing so. |
| in a home with children. | | | | There are plenty of other options for those who |
| If you do keep a gun in the home, whether for | | | | aren't prepared to deal with the safety issue of |
| hunting or for protection, it is crucial that you follow | | | | having a gun in the home. Stun guns and TASER |
| the appropriate safety precautions. Keep friends, | | | | devices are too examples of non-lethal self defense |
| family members, and yourself safe from gun related | | | | devices that will take an attacker down quickly, but |
| accidents in the home by storing the guns securely. | | | | won't hurt innocent people. |