The best way to prevent a child from being injured or killed by a firearm is to not keep a gun in your home. Even if you don’t own a gun, however, it may still be possible for children to encounter guns in other people’s homes, so it is important to talk to the parents of children your child plays with to see if they own guns. If other parents do own guns, talk to them about your concerns about gun safety and your child and urge them to store their gun safely. Talk to the children in your life about guns and make sure they understand what to do if they ever encounter a gun. Children should know that if they are at their friend’s house and their friend shows them a gun they should never—under any circumstance—touch the gun. They should leave the area where the gun is located and notify an adult about the gun. If children find a gun in a public place and no adult is around, they should call 911.

If you own a gun, there are simple, but critical, things you can do to help prevent children from becoming injured by the firearm. It is important to always handle guns with an attitude of respect and seriousness. Guns should NEVER be treated as toys. Before you ever handle or show a gun, check to make sure it is unloaded, then keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction, which may not necessarily be up or down.

Before entering your home, unload the firearm and keep it unloaded at all times when you are in your home. Make sure each gun is fitted with a trigger lock. If you don’t have trigger locks, you may be able to receive one free of charge by contacting your local police department. Keep your guns locked in a separate location from the ammunition and keep the keys to gun cabinets hidden or with you at all times. It is also a good idea to consider taking a gun safety course that teaches you how to use, maintain and store guns safely.

It is very important to talk to the children you know about gun safety. Do not believe that avoiding talking to children about guns will make children safe. Children are curious by nature and may seek to satisfy their curiosity at a time when they are unsupervised if they do not understand the rules of gun safety. Children are often exposed to guns though television, movies, video games and realistic-looking toys, which make guns look very appealing. Tell your children that gun violence on TV and movies is not real and that, in real life, people, including children, can get hurt by guns. Older children, especially teens, may find guns attractive because they are seen as a symbol of power. Talk with children about ways to solve arguments without guns or violence. It is also important to recognize that angry, sad or depressed preteens and teens that want to commit suicide may do so with a gun, giving you one more reason to keep your gun locked away. Teach young children to never touch a gun, and older children to never touch a gun unless they are doing so under your careful supervision. When children are old enough and mature enough to understand gun safety, enroll them in a firearms safety course. Children learn gradually, so discuss gun safety rules with children periodically to reinforce these lessons.

Prevent Child Abuse Wisconsin is a statewide, nonprofit organization that builds community resources, provides training and public awareness, and carries out advocacy activities in order to strengthen child abuse prevention efforts in Wisconsin. Founded in 1983, Prevent Child Abuse Wisconsin is a state chapter of Prevent Child Abuse America. For more information, please call 1-800-CHILDREN or visit www.preventchildabusewi.org.