Firearms and Your Young Child Protection at Home and Away

There are approximately 300 million privately-owned firearms in the United States 40 to 45% of American households have firearms Even if there are no guns in your home, the chances are that you know someone who has them.

Life Lessons Some lessons we can permit children to learn on their own when they bear the consequences of their choices. Others are too dangerous for us to allow children to experience for themselves; we teach them in advance how to keep themselves safe.

The First Level of Protection: Your Own Safe Gun-Handling Skills

Four Cardinal Rules of Safety 1. All guns are loaded

Four Cardinal Rules of Safety 1.All guns are loaded 2.Finger off trigger

Four Cardinal Rules of Safety 1.All guns are loaded 2.Finger off trigger 3.Muzzle awareness

Four Cardinal Rules of Safety 1.All guns are loaded 2.Finger off trigger 3.Muzzle awareness 4.Target identification

Additional Safety Rules 1.Never sweep yourself or anyone else with the muzzle of your firearm 2.Never hand anyone else a loaded firearm or take a loaded firearm from someone else 3.Always be sure of your firearm’s condition before handling it

Additional Safety Rules 4. Always lay a gun down with the barrel pointed in a safe direction 5. Never try to catch a dropped firearm 6. Always wear safety gear when practicing (eye protection, ear protection, ball cap)

The Second Level of Protection: Securing Your Firearms

Recreational Firearms

1.Always unload

Recreational Firearms 1.Always unload 2.Immediate, secure storage

Recreational Firearms 1.Always unload 2.Immediate, secure storage 3.Carefully re-check condition upon removal from storage

Defensive Firearms

Pistols

An appropriate holster: Properly fitted Trigger covered Reinforced opening

GunVault Pistol Storage

Defensive Firearms Pistols Shotguns

ShotLock TM Shotgun Storage

The Third Level of Protection: The Fundamentals

“Whether or not we own guns ourselves, we know that self-example and banning of a material object is likewise not enough to protect our children from situations where the forbidden object is offered to them. As with drugs, safety with guns requires preparation for social contact scenarios.” - Massad Ayoob

Four Gun Rules for Kids If you see a gun: 1.STOP!

Four Gun Rules for Kids If you see a gun: 1. STOP! 2. Don’t touch it.

Four Gun Rules for Kids If you see a gun: 1. STOP! 2. Don’t touch it. 3. Leave the area.

Four Gun Rules for Kids If you see a gun: 1. STOP! 2. Don’t touch it. 3. Leave the area. 4. Tell a responsible adult AND your parents.

The Fourth Level of Protection: Making Your Firearms Part of the Family

When can I touch our firearms? Who can I talk to about our guns? What do I say if someone asks to see our guns? What do I say if someone asks me if we have guns at home? What do I do if I notice someone else is wearing a gun? Circle of Trust

The Fifth Level of Protection: Gun-Proofing Your Child

The Most Reliable Security Method “If we cannot keep our children away from guns, if we cannot make every gun they might ever come near childproof, only one solution remains. Instead of childproofing guns, we must gunproof the children.” -Massad Ayoob

Four Cardinal Rules of Safety (yes… again!)

ALL guns are loaded!

Finger off the trigger!

Muzzle awareness!

Know your target!

Four Cardinal Rules of Safety 1.All guns are loaded 2.Finger off trigger 3.Muzzle awareness 4.Target identification

“[Children] crave three things: power, responsibility, and prestige.” - Massad Ayoob

Thank you for being here!