A Parent's Guide to Gun Safety for Kids

Your gun is only as dangerous as the person holding it. That doesn't just go for you; that goes for anyone who holds it. If you live with other people, they should also know how to handle it safely, especially if they're kids. Whether it's knowing how to use it in absolute emergencies or just to ensure they treat the weapon with the respect it deserves, there are so many benefits to teaching your child gun safety.

As gun owners ourselves, we want to help. Let's take a look at the fundamentals of teaching kids gun safety.

The Benefits of Gun Education

Many parents are nervous about their child being anywhere near guns, so they just tell their kids not to touch them. It's understandable where this sentiment comes from: almost 40% of gun-related injuries for individuals under 21 are accidental. Just limiting access seems like an easy way to stop this.

Unfortunately, gun safety for kids doesn't work like that. Gun owners should expect that, at some point, their child will hold their gun, with or without permission. Talking openly about guns and enrolling them in training your kid how to use them teaches kids that these are powerful tools to be respected, not toys. A more careful, cautious, and confident kid is less likely to cause an accident.

Recommended Gun Safety Rules for Families

So now you know the benefits of gun education, and you're ready to introduce firearms to your child. But where do you start? Here are our recommendations for proper gun safety practices in your home:

1. Store Your Guns Securely

The first rule of gun safety for kids is to keep your guns secured and out of reach. We don't suggest this because we don't think children should handle guns, but because it ensures any access to your firearms is under your control. Store your guns in some kind of gun storage that features a lock, such as a gun safe.

2. Teach the Four Rules of Firearm Safety

Before your child even touches a gun, they should be able to recite and practice the four rules of firearm safety. These are the foundations for basic gun safety, and that's no different for gun safety for kids. These rules are simple:

1. 1. Always keep your firearm pointed in a safe direction.
2. 2. Treat all guns as though they're loaded.
3. 3. Keep your finger off the trigger until you're ready to shoot.
4. 4. Always be sure of your target and what's behind it.

So long as your kids follow these rules, you'll minimize the chances of a misfire or accident.

3. Practice With Dummy Guns

Teaching gun safety for kids is best with hands-on experience. While explaining these rules to your kid, it might be helpful to have them use a fake firearm. That could be an orange dummy gun, an empty plastic BB gun, or anything else gun-shaped that can help kids get used to handling a firearm. After they've practiced with the dummy gun and are confident they understand safety, you'll be ready to supervise them handling their first real gun.

One of the biggest benefits of gun education and practice is that it builds muscle memory. The safer gun handling habits they practice, the faster they'll build it. For example, you can set house rules that all guns, both real firearms and toys, must be treated with the same four rules of firearm safety. If they can't obey those rules with a toy, they aren't ready to touch the real thing.

4. Have Open Conversations About Guns

While knowing how to handle a firearm is one thing, the real foundation of gun safety for kids is conversation. You don't want their understanding of guns and gun safety based on video games or movies (though both are excellent opportunities for calling out good and bad firearm handling). By talking about guns in a responsible and respectful manner, you create a home where children can learn about firearms the right way and be prepared to be responsible gun owners when they grow up.

Explore Guns for Sale at Sportsman's Outdoor Superstore

While we do love talking about the benefits of gun education on our gun blog, we don't stop at helping you teach gun safety for kids. Since 2007, Sportsman's Outdoor Superstore has been the gun store of choice for thousands of fellow gun owners. Whether you're a hunter looking for your next bolt-action rifle or someone choosing a semi-auto handgun for their CCW, find it here at Sportsman's Outdoor Superstore.