Safety Tips to Teach Your Teen Before Getting Them a Gun

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Parents worry about their teens and want to keep them safe whenever possible. Based on the area you live in or how you feel, you may want to purchase your teen a gun to keep him or her safe from various dangers. However, guns can quickly become dangerous if people don't use them properly, so make sure you go over these safety tips with your teen.

Talk About Guns

Before you get a gun for your teen, you should talk about guns with him or her. Make sure your teen understands the purpose of guns, when to use them and how they can be dangerous for everyone. You should also see what your teen understands about guns, so you can see if he or she feels ready to handle a firearm. You can also see if you feel your teen has the maturity to use a firearm. You don't want him or her to have access to a firearm if you feel your teen isn't ready for one, so you should talk with your teen about gun safety beforehand.

Attend Gun Training Classes

You should have your teen take gun training classes if you plan to let him or her have a firearm. These classes focus on gun safety, so people don't end up firing a gun accidentally whenever they use it. These classes allow your teen to learn the basics in a controlled environment, so people don't run into unexpected situations. Your teen can attend classes like the beginner's guide to firearms, so you can keep him or her safe and knowledgeable. Remember these classes exist, so your teen can learn how to be safe. This also ensures others around the gun can remain safe if anything unexpected or potentially dangerous happens.

Review the Safety Features

Make sure you go through the various safety features associated with each gun. For example, if you plan to get a handgun for your teen, you should make sure you point out the safety button on it. The safety button locks the trigger in place, so your teen can't pull the trigger with the safety button activated. You should also make sure your teen understands which color indicates if he or she activated the safety. For example, some guns may use green to indicate they can't be pulled while others use orange to indicate when it's off. This varies between guns, so discuss it with your teens to help them.

Assume Guns Have Ammo

You should teach your teen to assume a gun has ammo in it at all times. Even if the teen remembers taking out the ammo, he or she should make sure the gun doesn't have anything inside it. Sometimes, people misremember or make mistakes, so they need to make sure they emptied the gun before they store it. No one wants to accidentally pull the trigger with a live round in it, so make sure your teen knows how to check the chamber. This involves emptying the chamber and removing the magazine. Make sure you go through these instructions with your teen, so he or she understands the process.

Never Point the Gun at People

Above all else, your teen should know he or she should never point a gun at anyone. Even if the gun doesn't have any ammo in it, others won't realize that when a person points a gun toward them. This means your teen needs to never point the gun at people, so your child doesn't get attacked or cause any misunderstandings concerning the firearm. Make sure you tell your teen to point the gun at the ground at all times. Unless your teen plans to shoot a target or use the gun, it can't be pointed up. If your teen follows this rule, he or she can help others feel safe.

Conclusion

Teaching teens about guns can help them keep themselves safe, but they also need to understand proper gun safety. You don't want them to have any accidents, so make sure you teach your teen about gun safety and how to properly use them. That way, your teen can remain safe while also ensuring he or she handles the gun properly.