Firearm sales spiked this year. With more guns on the streets and in our homes, it’s important to remind residents and visitors about safe firearm practices.
- Treat all guns as if they’re loaded, even if you think it is unloaded.
- Keep your finger off the trigger and outside of the trigger guard until you are ready to point and shoot your firearm.
- Always keep your guns in a safe and secure location, away from children and inexperienced people.
- Use child safety locks and keep your ammunition stored separately from your firearm.
- Teach your children what to properly do when they see a gun.
- Always keep firearm muzzles pointed in safe directions—never toward yourself or another person. Point it only at what you intend to shoot.
- Be aware of what is behind and around your target. Never fire at an unseen target.
- Wear appropriate eye and ear protection when discharging a firearm.
- Know how to properly use your gun. Take a class. Practice shooting.
- Familiarize yourself with all federal, state and local laws surrounding the purchase and possession of firearms.
- Interested in legally carrying? Get your Concealed Weapon Permit from SLED. Know the laws surrounding CWPs.
- When cleaning your gun, always remove the magazine and other sources of ammo. Keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction and your finger off the trigger. Always visually inspect the chamber to ensure it is unloaded. Repeat this step twice.
- Remember that your vehicle is not a mobile gun safe.
Focus on your responsibility as a gun owner; ensure you and your family are educated on and practice gun safety at all times.