| There are 21,700,000 websites on the subject of | | | | education process to begin. None of us would ever |
| GUN SAFETY. If that doesn't tell you just how | | | | let our small kids play on a busy street. But many of |
| important this subject is...nothing will! Police | | | | us, especially those of us who have guns in our |
| Departments all around the country, medical groups, | | | | homes, wait until it is way too late to talk to our kids |
| gun safety organizations (including the NRA), and | | | | about gun safety. Is there anything more inquisitive |
| thousands of other agencies, organizations, and | | | | than a child? Thinking back to when we were kids |
| associations have all dedicated websites to this | | | | ourselves, what is one of the absolutely first things |
| subject.Articles appear discussing the 10 | | | | we did when we were left alone? |
| commandments of gun safety, 47 rules of gun | | | | We started to explore! Honestly now, didn't you |
| safety, what kids should be taught about gun safety, | | | | know where more things were in your house than |
| what parents should know about gun safety, and | | | | your parents did? Weren't they always asking you |
| millions of other helpful hints, tips, rules, | | | | where something was? Well, not much has changed |
| commandments, etc.But... there is one common | | | | in the meantime!If you have a gun stored in a |
| theme that is present in every article referencing gun | | | | dresser drawer...get a gun safe!If you have a gun |
| safety and that is this... if you have a gun in your | | | | hidden under your pillow...get a gun safe!If you have a |
| home it should be stored in a gun safe or minivault, | | | | gun sitting on top of the refrigerator...get a gun safe!I |
| you should have a trigger lock for your gun, | | | | have spent the better part of my career as a Public |
| ammunition should be stored in a separate place, and | | | | Safety Director. The amount of times that my Police |
| you should keep the key in a safe place where no | | | | Department responded to calls for service where a |
| one can find it but you! | | | | gun was involved is staggering! I learned several very |
| -How else do you account for the fact that over | | | | important lessons:-Guns and alcohol do not mix.-Guns |
| 40,000 kids bring a gun to school each year?-How | | | | and depression do not mix.- |
| else do you account for the fact that there are | | | | Guns and domestic altercations do not mix.-Guns and |
| almost as many deaths each year from gunshot | | | | children do not mix.-And finally...and most |
| wounds as by auto accidents?-How else do you | | | | importantly...you do not get a second chance to do |
| account for the fact that most teen suicides are | | | | the right thing! You have a chance to do the right |
| caused by guns?In a modern world where guns and | | | | thing today! If you don't have one, get a gun safe or |
| gun violence can be seen virtually every minute of | | | | minivault. If a close friend, relative or neighbor you |
| every day on TV, in the movies, and on video | | | | know has a gun, these also make excellent gifts and |
| games, what message are we sending if we fail to | | | | show that you care. An old axiom states that there |
| educate and inform our children about gun safety? | | | | are lies, damned lies, and statistics! Don't let someone |
| When do we start? Experts tell us that when a child | | | | you love become a statistic. Secure your |
| is first aware that guns exist is the time for the | | | | gun---TODAY! |