Stay Safe: Essential Gun Safety Tips for Responsible Gun Owners

“More people die from gun violence by early February in the United States than during an entire calendar year in other high-income countries.”—Moms Demand Action

• Treat every firearm as if it were loaded
• Unload each firearm before storing. Keep ammunition locked in a secure location away from the firearm.  If you do store your firearm loaded, use trigger or cable locks or other commercially available locking devices before storing in a locked gun safe or cabinet
• Keep your firearm locked in a secure location accessible to responsible adults only
• Keep keys/combinations to the gun cabinet or gun locks, as well as the keys/combinations to ammunition storage in separate locations and out of children’s reach
• Firearm safety is especially important in households where persons may be suffering from a mental health condition which might affect personal judgment that may place a person at risk for injuries to themselves or others

If you keep your firearm in a car:

• Unload each firearm before storing. Never store your firearm in an open space, under a seat, or in the glove compartment of your vehicle
• Install a gun safe in your vehicle
• Do not have stickers or any other indicators on your vehicle that signal a firearm is inside

If children are in the home:

• • Use trigger or cable locks on your firearm and keep your firearm locked in a secure location accessible to adults only
  • Teach your children about firearm safety. Teach them never to touch or play with a firearm and to tell and adult if they find a firearm
  • Check with neighbors, friends, relatives or adults in any other homes where your children visit to ensure they follow safe storage practices for any firearms in their homes