Firearm Safety

Firearm safety begins with owning a firearm. Every free individual holds the primary responsibility for their own self-defense. Firearms are a modern tool which enables even the most petite female to defend herself against multiple agressors.

Shotguns are the preferred tool for home defense, as they can be loaded with a wide assortment of shells which penetrate buildings less effectively than a handgun cartridge.Practice, Practice, PracticeWhen holding a gun, rest your finger on the trigger guard or along the side of the gun. Until you are actually ready to fire, do not touch the trigger.The first firearm which you should purchase is a handgun (http://www.fortliberty.org/military-library/handguns.shtml). The handgun is a versatily weapon, in that it can be used both for home defense and for personal defense.Don't be shy about talking with your kids: They know you keep guns, and they're going to be curious about them. The best way to diffuse that interest is not to ignore it, but to address it head-on. Talk to your children about guns and what a gun can do if not handled properly.Proper gun storage (http://www.fortliberty.org/gun-storage/gun-storage.shtml) depends largely on your environment. You must balance the conflicting goals of having access to your firearms when you most need them with the needs of protecting your firearms from theft or misuse.If you use a key for your safe, hide it where your kids will not find it. If you use a combination lock or similar system, never divulge the code except to another responsible adult.The last firearm which you should purchase is a rifle (http://www.fortliberty.org/military-library/rifles.shtml). The rifle is the tool of survival in emergency situations and is the final tool used by individuals to protect their freedom. The rifle should be at least .223 caliber, and should preferably be a semi-automatic.The shotgun should be 12ga, and should have a capacity of at least 6 shells.But� there is one common theme that is present in every article referencing gun safety and that is this� if you have a gun in your home it should be stored in a gun safe or minivault, you should have a trigger lock for your gun, ammunition should be stored in a separate place, and you should keep the key in a safe place where no one can find it but you!

• How else do you account for the fact that over 40,000 kids bring a gun to school each year?
• How else do you account for the fact that there are almost as many deaths each year from gunshot wounds as by auto accidents?
• How else do you account for the fact that most teen suicides are caused by guns?

When do we start? Experts tell us that when a child is first aware that guns exist is the time for the education process to begin. None of us would ever let our small kids play on a busy street. But many of us, especially those of us who have guns in our homes, wait until it is way too late to talk to our kids about gun safety. Is there anything more inquisitive than a child? Thinking back to when we were kids ourselves, what is one of the absolutely first things we did when we were left alone? We started to explore! Honestly now, didn�t you know where more things were in your house than your parents did? Weren�t they always asking you where something was? Well, not much has changed in the meantime!Whenever you pick up a gun, immediately engage the safety device if possible, and, if the gun has a magazine, remove it before opening the action and looking into the chamber(s) which should be clear of ammunition. If you do not know how to open the action or inspect the chamber(s), leave the gun alone and get help from someone who does.Either a revolver or a semi-automatic handgun will do the job. Effective handgun calibers include .38, 9mm, .40, and .45.In addition to your firearm, you should always have an adequate supply of ammunition (http://www.fortliberty.org/gun-accessories/ammunition.shtml) available. A gun without ammunition is a very expensive club.For More InformationIf you have a gun sitting on top of the refrigerator�get a gun safe!3. Always keep the gun unloaded until ready to use.The three most fundamental NRA rules for safe gun handling are:The most effective key to gun safety (http://www.fortliberty.org/military-library/firearm-gun-safety.shtml) is regular practice with your firearm.If you have a gun hidden under your pillow�get a gun safe!In addition to practice, you should consider attending a tactical training course (http://www.fortliberty.org/training/tactical-training.shtml) to improve your skills.You have a chance to do the right thing today! If you don�t have one, get a gun safe or minivault. If a close friend, relative or neighbor you know has a gun, these also make excellent gifts and show that you care. An old axiom states that there are lies, damned lies, and statistics! Don�t let someone you love become a statistic. Secure your gun---TODAY!

For more information on firearm safety, read gun safety (http://www.fortliberty.org/military-library/firearm-gun-safety.shtml).

Author: Tom Paine