CAUSES OF FIREARM ACCIDENTS

Ignorance and carelessness are major causes of firearm accidents. To help reduce the number of firearm accidents, it is critical that gun safety rules are understood and practiced at all times by every family member.

Following are some examples of firearm accidents that could have been avoided if the basic gun safety rules had been practiced:

        Two young children playing in their home found a loaded handgun with the magazine removed on a
         bedside table. One child was injured when the handgun was fired.
         

         A handgun owner assumed a firearm was unloaded. While cleaning it, he accidentally fired the
         handgun, causing injury to himself.

         A hunter was walking with his finger loosely on the trigger of his rifle. Distracted by a sudden noise
        behind him, he turned and accidentally fired, injuring his buddy walking nearby.

Knowing the safety rules and applying them most of the time is not enough. Firearm accidents can happen even to a person who knows the safety rules, but is careless in following them. For example, you may think you can leave your loaded firearm out on the kitchen table just for a moment while you go outside to turn off the garden hose. Although you know you should never leave a firearm where a child may find it, you carelessly think it will be alright “just this once.”

REMEMBER: Ignorance and carelessness can result in firearm accidents. Basic gun safety rules must be applied ALL OF THE TIME.

PREVENTING MISUSE TRAGEDIES

It’s a fact that many depressed, intoxicated, substance abusive, or enraged individuals commit suicide every year with firearms, usually handguns.

The developmental issues associated with adolescence make teenagers particularly susceptible to this unfortunate outcome. Safe and responsible firearm storage, particularly when a member of the household is experiencing one of the aforementioned conditions, can help prevent tragedies.

BECOMING A SAFE AND RESPONSIBLE FIREARM OWNER

Becoming a safe firearm owner is similar to becoming a safe driver—you combine a good working knowledge of the equipment, the basic skills of operation, and a mind set dedicated to safe and responsible usage and storage.

This means you must have:

• Respect for the danger of firearms;

An awareness and concern about the possible safety hazards related to firearms; and

A desire to learn and practice safe conduct with firearms.

Developing a mind set for safe and responsible firearm usage and storage is the first step in actually becoming a responsible firearm owner. The next step is building your knowledge of firearms and gun safety, which you can do by reading and understanding the information in this study guide. The final steps are becoming skillful in handling firearms and using the safety knowledge that you have acquired.