With weapon ownership and usage being legalized in most American states, there is a need for people, including kids to learn gun precautions. Responsible and informed behavior toward weapon handling is critical to preventing related accidents.
Research findings show that accidents related to weapon usage occurred contrary to the intended course of action. Unfortunately, most people know how to handle and use weapons but do not teach their kids how to act if they come across one. This article is all about what you should teach your kids about weapons
Basic Gun Rules
Weapon ownership and handling are governed by four basic rules that everyone, including kids, should be aware of. The first rule to teach your kid is to assume every weapon they come across is loaded and is therefore dangerous to touch or play with.
Teach your kids how to handle a gun responsibly
The second rule is never point a firearm they come across, at anything they do not intend to harm. Also, teach them that in case they encounter one, they should never have their finger on the trigger unless they are ready to fire. The last basic rule of weapon handling to teach a kid is that they should be sure of their targets, bearing in mind that bullets penetrate targets and other objects in their trajectory.
What to Do When They Come Across a Weapon
We may try so hard to keep weapons away from kids by storing them in safeguarded and locked compartments. However, they may still encounter one for instance when playing in the yard or in a neighbor’s house. This is why we should teach them what to do when they find one. Upon coming into contact with a weapon, kids should be taught to stop, never touch it, flee the scene and immediately inform an adult about what they saw. In case they are not comfortable with their friends’ parents, you should encourage your kids to come to you with such information.
Laws Governing Gun Ownership and Usage
Except for the very young ones, children should be educated on state and federal laws governing the ownership and handling of weapons. They should be taught that failure to adhere to these laws can have negative recursions.
Adult Responsibility
It is important to teach your kids that weapons are the responsibility of adults. Teach them that for your protection, other people’s and theirs, firearms should never be loaded and should be stored in secure compartments. Explain to them that they should never try to attempt to access the compartments for their own well-being. Since kids are always curious, explain to them why you cannot share combinations and passcodes to the secured compartments where weapons are stored.
How to Tell Between Real and Fake Weapons
As you have probably realized, it is entirely impossible to keep weapons away from kids. Therefore, it is imperative to teach them how to tell between fake, toys and real ones. This way, you can help keep them and other people away from imminent accidents. You do not want your kid toying with a real weapon while mistaking it for a toy or a fake one. In this understanding, teach your kids to treat all weapons, as real ones unless an adult has ascertained otherwise.
Communication with Adults
You should always build better relationships with your kids to allow open and honest communication about weapon handling. Encourage them to inform you in case they find a weapon somewhere. Let them understand the implications of not informing you or any other adult about gun presence in their
playing areas. Never at one point, brush them off whenever they ask you questions regarding weapon
handling and ownership. By answering them, you are reducing curiosity and preventing possible weapon
accidents in the future.
Respect for Weapons
Kids should be taught the need to treat weapons with the respect they deserve. Explain to them that weapons are not toys and are only meant for use for personal protection. Let them know everything that pertains to responsible firearm handling and ownership.
By teaching kids about weapon safety, you are encouraging them to be responsible citizens right from the earliest stages of their lives. However, before you transfer this responsibility, ensure to play your part fully. To prevent exposing kids to weapons, always store them in a locked safe, secured with complex passcodes and combinations. It is also wise to consider enrolling your older children such as teenagers in a weapon coaching session. Here, they will receive professional and more accurate safety information regarding weapon handling.
