In 2020, the number of preventable or accidental gun deaths in the U.S. increased by 10%. While guns can be useful safety tools, they’re also extremely dangerous and must be handled- and stored- exercising extreme caution.
It’s crucial that you prevent accidental gun deaths or injuries by avoiding common gun safety mistakes.
To do that, you first need to learn what the common gun safety mistakes are. Then you can figure out how to avoid them, keeping you and your family safe. Read on to learn about 8 of the common gun safety mistakes in the list below.
1. Refusing to Take a Gun Safety Training Course
It’s one thing to read articles like this one online. It’s quite another to attend a gun safety training course and learn about gun safety rules there. The main difference is that you’ll have an instructor to correct any actions that you do improperly.
Also, when you’re choosing a gun safety class, make sure that it’s a good quality one. One thing you can do is check the credentials of the instructors. You may also want to check out online reviews that any previous clients have written.
2. Assuming Your Gun Is Unloaded
Many gun accidents happen because gun owners handle their guns as if they were unloaded. As an example, they may keep their fingers on the triggers of guns when not actively using them.
You need to assume your gun is loaded at all times. Thinking this way will affect how you handle your gun, pass it off to others, etc. Doing so will prevent a lot of deaths and injuries from occurring.
3. Storing Your Gun Improperly
If the wrong person gets his or her hands on your gun, you, them, and/or any number of other people could be in danger. You mustn’t leave your gun laying around in places where anyone could pick it up and use it. You need to put it in a safe gun storage option whenever you aren’t actively using it.
The gun storage vault, locker, etc. should be as secure as possible. It must not be easy to open and it should have a lock. Also, make sure that you keep the key for your gun storage as close to you as possible and only give it to people you completely trust.
4. Forgetting to Clean Your Gun
All types of guns require cleaning from time to time. Whenever you fire your gun, not everything gets ejected from the barrel. Bits of gunpowder will get left behind and this can build up in a big way over time.
Eventually, an unclean gun can refuse to fire. In highly dangerous situations, a build-up of material could even cause your gun to explode in your hand. The best way to avoid this is to purchase a gun cleaning kit and learn how to properly clean your gun from an instructor and/or online research tools.
5. Using the Wrong Ammunition in Your Gun
Just as there are many different types of guns there are many kinds of ammunition for guns. However, each gun can only use certain types of ammunition. Using the wrong type of ammunition puts you at risk of serious and/or can destroy your gun.
Use your gun’s instruction manual to know which ammunition for guns you need to use. If you’re still struggling, consider talking to a worker in a gun shop or your gun safety class instructor. They should have enough knowledge to help you find the right type of ammunition.
6. Skipping Over a Gun Safety Check
You don’t just have to assume your gun is always loaded. You can also check if the gun is loaded or unloaded every time you pick it up, remove it from its storage, etc. Check the chamber and magazine with the gun pointed in a safe direction.
If the gun is loaded, you should unload it and only reload it just before you’re going to use the gun. Carrying around a loaded weapon is dangerous. In many locations, it is also illegal to transport your gun this way.
7. Not Learning Enough About Your Gun
The best way to avoid your gun malfunctioning and/or injuring you is to learn how to properly use it. One way to do this is to gather all the information that you can about your gun through the manual, online research, and so forth.
However, you should supplement this learning with actual gun practice. Going to a gun range and shooting the gun a few times and/or going to a training class can help. Workers at the gun range and/or class instructors should also have answers to any questions you may have.
8. Failing to Teach Your Family About the Gun
A lot of gun injuries happen because other family members, especially children, have access to guns or know where they’re stored. It’s not enough to just tell family members to stay away from guns you own. You need to make sure that they understand why this is necessary and install gun safes to keep children away from them at all times.
Consider calling a family meeting and detailing the consequences of improperly handling guns. You should also make sure to punish children if they try to get into your gun storage unit or handle your gun. The consequences of not doing so can be deadly.
If your children are old enough, you may teach them some things about handling guns if you want them to be able to protect themselves. However, you have to make sure that they’re following all of the gun safety rules.
Avoid Making the Common Gun Safety Mistakes With Our Classes
Making the right choices with your gun is the best way to make it a friend, not a foe. Be sure to do some further research on gun safety. There are plenty of common gun safety mistakes you can make which are not listed here.
While you’re getting the hang of your gun, consider checking out the Texas Gun Club. We have ranges, training courses, and more to keep every gun lover happy. Come visit us at one of the two locations listed here.
