The first guns were invented in the 15th century, although these guns were more like small cannons than the guns we are familiar with today. However, from these rudimentary guns came the various, high-tech guns we currently have today. If you want to be a responsible gun owner, you should know that there are a few rules you should follow to make sure that you and everyone around you are safe when a gun is involved.
But where should you start? What kind of basic information should you know when handling a gun? Keep reading and learn more about the basics of gun safety below.
Keep the Gun Stored in a Safe Place
Many people keep a gun in their homes as a form of protection against home invaders or similar threats. For that reason, many gun owners store their guns in areas that are easy to access such as drawers or cabinets. However, if you have other people in the house besides you, storing your gun in these locations could be a very bad idea.
In the past, there have been many incidences of children or teenagers getting a hold of a gun and seriously injuring themselves, or worse because the gun was readily available. For that reason, proper gun storage should be your number one priority.
This is true for all types of guns, even small ones that you may think are relatively harmless. This is because any kind of gun can harm a person if the person involved has not been educated on how to handle a gun safely. Fortunately, there are many safe places you can store a gun so no one will get hurt or accidentally discover the gun.
The Details
The best option is to invest in a gun safe with a special access code that only you know. Gun safes are designed to be very sturdy and they come in various sizes to store both small and large guns. Some of them are even fireproof and thief-proof.
With a safe, you can be confident that no one except you will be able to access your firearms. Keep in mind that you don’t have to break the bank to get a safe for your firearms. There are some safes that are quite affordable and should do very well to keep the guns safely stored away until you need them.
Always Keep Your Gun Clean
Many people don’t know that keeping a gun clean has a lot to do with gun safety. This is because a dirty gun can cause problems with how the gun functions. In particular, after enough use, the inside of the gun (the barrel) will become filled with slick residue.
If you don’t regularly clean out this residue, it will start to build up in the barrel of the gun. This can make it difficult for the bullet to leave the barrel and it may even cause the gun to jam. This can be a very dangerous situation if you don’t know how to sort this problem out.
In some cases, a jammed gun can be fatal since there is a chance that the gun could explode in your hands. There is also the case that the residue inside the gun could be expelled into your eyes, causing damage.
What You Need to Know
For that reason, you will need to make it your responsibility to clean your gun every so often. While you don’t need to clean your gun every time you use it, you should aim to clean it at least once a month.
That way, residue won’t have a chance to build up inside the barrel. Fortunately, there are many tools available that you can use to make cleaning your gun a breeze. When cleaning your gun, always be sure to follow basic gun safety rules.
Besides the barrel of the gun, you will also want to make sure that other parts of the gun are completely clean. That way, you can rest easy knowing that your gun is in good shape and it should function well when it’s time to use it (learn more here).
Where To Put Your Hands on a Gun
What many people don’t know is that they should not put their finger on the trigger of a gun unless they mean to shoot. It may seem natural to rest your finger on the trigger of the gun, but this can be very dangerous if the gun is loaded. You may accidentally twitch your finger which will pull the trigger.
This, of course, could seriously hurt someone near you or damage objects in your environment. Instead of resting your finger on the trigger, rest it next to the trigger, specifically against the trigger guard. That way, your finger can move to the trigger when necessary.
You should also never look into the barrel of a gun. Even if the gun is not loaded, you shouldn’t do this. Many people make the mistake of believing that a gun is empty when, in reality, it has a bullet or two left or stuck inside.
This, of course, could be a deadly mistake. You can avoid this problem by never looking into the barrel of a gun.
How To Be a Responsible Gun Owner
Being a responsible gun owner doesn’t have to be difficult, but there are certain precautions you need to take. For one, you should always store your gun in a safe location such as a secure safe. More than that, you should always keep your gun clean and learn how to physically handle a gun so no one gets hurt.
To learn more, check out the other blogs on our website.