One of the biggest responsibilities of any gun owner is keeping firearms stored safely to avoid any accidents at home. There are several steps you can take to keep your guns out of the hands of children, intruders, and would-be thieves. Here are the basics of gun storage and home safety.

Gun Safety in the Home

Use Locked Storage

When you’re not at the shooting range, the correct place for your firearms is in a gun safe or a locked case. Keep your keys on your person or, better yet, choose a combination lock to which only you and other authorized users have the code.

Add a Locking Device

In addition to secure storage, the gun itself can and should be locked to prevent it from being fired. The two main types of gun locks are trigger locks, which stop the trigger from being pulled, and cable locks which are threaded through either the barrel or the chamber.

Store Ammo Separately

By keeping ammunition in a separate area from the guns, you add yet another layer of security and make it more difficult for any accidents to occur. Each time you put your firearms away, ensure they’re unloaded, and all loose ammo goes back into its separate storage.

Teach Kids Not to Play With Guns

Your children are the people most at risk if there’s an unsecured gun in the home. Start early to teach them why guns are dangerous and impress on them that they are not toys. If they find one in the home, they should leave it alone and tell you right away—even if it doesn’t seem to be loaded or looks like a toy.

For tips and supplies so you can be proactive about gun safety, contact Shooter's Firearms & Indoor Range in Columbia, IL. Serving Monroe and St. Clair Counties, they offer a full range of certified training courses and shooting competitions as well as gun inspections, cleanings, and repairs. For questions about scheduling, call (618) 281-6393 or send a message online.