Our Responsibilities to Our Household Members

Everyone is concerned with mass shootings, and they should be, but when you look at the figures of gun incidents, the number of accidental shootings far out number those injured or killed in mass shootings.  We need to be more vigilant to protect the loved ones in our household and our guests.

The other day, the New York Times wrote an article, Selling a New Generation on Arms on the NRA and firearm manufacturers focusing on the youth market.  I think they missed the point of how helpful many of the initiatives by engaging youth in firearm sports like going to a range for target practice or participating in youth competitions.

Educating youth about firearms is a good thing.  Depending on who you ask and the number changes every year,  between 40 - 50 percent of U.S. homes have some type of firearm.  That is 57,380,679 and one half households if you trust the 50% figure.  That is 2.6 numbers of persons in each household. It is not good enough to have only one person in a household know how to safely handle, store and maintain a firearm.  Safety is a family affair.

When you go to a range or a competition there are safety officers to help you.  They make sure that all the guests of the range or participants in the competition handle their firearms safely.  If not, they will work with the offender and help them.  Young hunters have to take a gun safety course.  All firearm sports require that children be accompanied by an adult.

If someone owns a gun in the household for whatever reason, they are responsible to make sure everyone in the home knows how to safely handle a firearm.  Kids are curious, firearms not stored safely are time bombs and without knowing how to handle a firearm that has been purchased to protect the home quickly become useful tools for intruders.

As part of new gun laws, people who do own firearms must be responsible and educate and train all the household members about how to handle, maintain and use a firearm safely.  The best ways to do this is to include the family in range visits, seek out educational opportunities through youth organizations, schools and your local dealers and ranges and involve those that are really interested in firearm sports.

This was posted on A Girl with a Gun Facebook account. What a sweetheart this young shooter is!