If you are a gun owner, it is probably one of your top priorities to ensure that your family is safe and your firearms are carefully protected to prevent accidents. After all, gun accidents can be especially devastating, but are easily prevented. It’s easy to take steps to protect your family from accidents involving firearms. Here are our top tips to prevent accidental discharges and other accidents.

1. If One Lock is Good, Two is Better

When it comes to securing your firearms, the options are nearly endless. Gun safes, locking storage cases, furniture with hidden safes, trigger locks, and other options are available, but how do you determine which is best? Often, the right kinds of lock depends on the weapon. Many modern weapons have challenging safety devices to prevent accidents, but these can be passed by someone who is familiar with the weapon. Your local gun shop or shooting range may have certain locks they recommend, so they can be a useful resource. As a general rule—keep a gun under two locks. One should be on the firearm itself to prevent it from firing, like a trigger lock. The second should be a secure method of storage, like a safe.

2. Children Will Find It

You have to assume that your children, or visiting children, are simply much better and hide and seek than you are. If you feel that tucking a handgun into your sock drawer is hidden, you should reconsider. The best storage is a method that completely prevents access to the weapon, such as a safe or locking case. Many options are available that make it quick and easy for the right person to access the weapon inside, but discourages unauthorized users from opening the secure storage. Look for storage that can be programmed to open with a palm scan or fingerprint.

3. Store Ammunition Separately

While it can be easy to lock your hunting rifle and boxes of ammunition away in a single safe, it’s not a good idea. Your ammunition should also be secured, but it should remain separate from your weapon. This adds a few extra steps to the process of gaining access to a weapon and loading it, which can buy you time to discover what is happening or even completely prevent it.

4. Never Store Loaded Weapons

When handling firearms, you should always assume they are loaded and treat them as such. Leaving weapons loaded when not in use is a dangerous thing, however. When you put away a firearm, always double check to make sure it is unloaded and separate the ammunition in another secure location.

5. Be Careful with Your Keys

If you have taken appropriate precautions and secured your firearms safely, it’s important to ensure that it remains that way. If your safe or gun locks require keys, it’s important to protect these as well. Separate your keys for your safe and ammunition storage, and keep them all out of reach of your kids. Your goal is to place as many steps between your child and a loaded weapon, so be sure to also prevent them from finding the right keys.

Bryan Caulfield is a dedicated Clearwater personal injury attorney who has devoted his career to helping injured victims get justice. He will fight tirelessly to see that your best interests are protected and that you receive the compensation you deserve. If you or a loved one has been injured due to a negligent firearm owner, you may be able to file a claim.

Schedule a free consultation today. Contact Bryan by calling (727) 308-6060.