| In view of the risks involved with handling | | | | Taking into consideration that there have |
| firearms besides the fact that more and more | | | | been a number of injuries and death from guns |
| guns are making their way into the wrong | | | | in the home there are currently gun safety |
| hands, gun safety is especially important to | | | | programs set up to teach both parents and |
| teach to children. Just incase a gun is in a | | | | children the significance of gun safety. Of |
| home for personal protection it should be | | | | which one of the gun safety programs called |
| stored properly and out of the reach of | | | | the Eddie Eagle program from the National |
| children. In fact deaths from firearms are | | | | Rifle Association (NRA). This safety program |
| the primary cause of death in children as the | | | | tells children step by step how to deal with |
| majority of the incidents that cause injury | | | | a gun if they come across one, the steps are, |
| are not intentional. Therefore teaching | | | | Stop! Don't Touch, Leave the Area, and Tell |
| children about gun safety is extremely | | | | an Adult. This simple basic method is one |
| essential. | | | | that should be taught every child as all |
| | | | three steps are important aspects in gun |
| Each year there are a large number of | | | | safety. There is a program called "Keep Your |
| children that are injured by guns. Although | | | | Family Safe from Firearm Injury" that is |
| most injuries by firearms occur in children | | | | sponsored by the American Academy of |
| of the adolescent age many young children and | | | | Pediatrics. According to this gun safety |
| infants are affected as well. At times if a | | | | program that has been designed for parents - |
| young child sees a gun, any may not be aware | | | | it stresses that the best gun safety measure |
| that it's something that is dangerous and not | | | | is to possess a firearm in the house. |
| meant to be touched, they may play with it. | | | | |
| This takes place time and again in the home | | | | One must remember that safe storage of a gun |
| and certainly needs to be addressed by | | | | should be a priority if choosing to have a |
| teaching gun safety to children early on. | | | | gun in the home. A safe or even a locked |
| | | | drawer should be used and anything without a |
| It is estimated that in the United States, | | | | lock on it is clearly unsafe. Kids are |
| there are firearms in almost 50% of the | | | | inquisitive and will look in places all over |
| homes. In spite of the fact that this | | | | the house. If a lock is in place it takes |
| estimate is inflated it still means there are | | | | away the chance that the child will be able |
| many homes do have guns which in turn makes | | | | to find the firearm. |
| gun safety extremely important. Predominately | | | | |
| the firearms are for reasons of safety and | | | | It is not only your responsibility to keep |
| protection but it is more likely that you | | | | your children safe and sound but it needs to |
| will injure or kill a family member or friend | | | | be your priority. Hence to be more informed |
| than an intruder in the home. | | | | about how to keep your gun stored far away |
| | | | from little children is plainly crucial. |