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Gun Safety For Kids

If kids are in a home with firearms, it’s essential that the guns are kept locked-up and unloaded. The ammunition should be kept in a separate location. Even if the firearms are safety out of a children's reach, it’s important to educate them on gun safety and the consequences that they bring. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics, three children die every day due to non-homicide firearm accidents. The overall gun-related death rate among children in the United States, 15 years of age and under, is nearly twelve times higher than twenty-five other industrialized countries combined.

More than one-third of homes with children have at least one firearm. The risks associated with owning a firearm are high, making it increasingly important to stress the importance of gun safety to children. Parents and educators are encouraged to educate children and teens about the various aspects of gun use and safety. The National Rifle Association (NRA) teaches children what to do when they come across a gun at home, school, at a friends house, or any other place they may be at the time. This includes stopping, not touching the gun, leaving the area quickly, and telling an adult. Here you will find gun safety information and educational materials.

Gun Safety for Young Kids

Parents and educators play a key role in teaching safe practices that are responsible for the child’s behavior and safety. Even parents who do not own guns need to teach their child about following gun safety rules. While there is no set time to talk to your child about gun safety, it’s good to introduce the difference between toy guns and real guns when they begin to show an interest in firearms. This may be when they see their favorite cartoon character with a gun on television or when they are playing with pretend or fake guns at home. Show your child the difference between a false gun and a real one while demonstrating to them how to properly handle a gun. It’s important to teach young children to completely avoid guns and simply “walk away” and don’t touch guns that they may see or come in contact with.

Gun Safety for Older Kids

Many children become fascinated with guns, especially as they become older. It’s important to set ground rules when teaching older children to handle guns, and when not to. Before you allow your child to look at or handle a gun, it’s essential that they know what to do when there is a gun in sight and there is no adult around. There should also be strict rules stating that the child is not allowed to look at or handle the guns when a parent is not present. Before teaching or allowing a child to handle a gun, they should be able to explain all the basic rules of gun handling to you. It may also be beneficial to schedule shooting range trips to help further explain gun safety and to show how to safely load, unload, and use a gun. When a child is shooting a gun for safety practice, be sure not to use live ammunition.

Educational Materials

Educators have the opportunity to teach children of all ages the importance of gun safety in the classroom. In school, children can participate in gun safety activities, get answers to questions that they may have on various types of hand guns and rifles, as well as learn safety rules associated with firearms. Repetition is very important while teaching children. Teaching children about gun safety at home and in the classroom will help get the message through about the fundamentals of gun safety. The following materials can be used by educators to help teach gun safety in the classroom.


Which of the following is NOT one of the "Three Ws" that should be included in every hunting plan?

What firearm you are hunting with.
Who you are with.
When you are returning.
Where you are going.


   

What technique can be described as "slow, patient movement of the hunter into shooting position after game has been located"?

Stand Hunting
Stalking
Driving
Still Hunting


   

Which species is there federal hunting laws for?

Wood Duck
Ring-knecked pheasant
Snowshoe hare
White-tailed Deer


   

Which field carry provides the most firearm control?

Two-handed
Cradle
Trail
Sling


   

Which choice is NOT recommended when approaching downed wildlife?

Approach quietly from behind.
Poke animal gently with a stick.
Touch the eye gently, if there's no reaction, animal is usually dead.
Shoot it again before approaching to make sure it is dead.


   

What is the technique known as "driving"?

One hunter sitting in a blind waiting for game to come along.
One hunter moving slowly and patiently into shooting position after game has been located.
One or more pushers walk through an area trying to move game ahead of them into areas wehre blockers are waiting.
One hunter driving a vehicle and a second hunter in the back set shooting through the open window.


   

Scouting an area you want to hunt should include:

Walk around the area on opening day with your firearm or bow.
Walk around the area looking for animal movements and signs.
Look at maps and aerial photos of the area.
Answers B and C.


   

Which of the following is NOT a reason why you should develop a hunting plan for every hunt?

So friends and family know how to contact you in case of emergency.
So you can use your hunting plan to start a fire if you get lost.
So fellow hunters know where you are located.
So friends and family know where you can be found in case of a hunting accident.


   

Which of these items should be on every checklist included in your hunting plan?

Hunting license
Decoys
Arrows
Treestand


   

Which of these does NOT violate a hunting safety rule?

Carrying a loaded firearm in a vehicle.
Keeping your finger on the trigger while stalking game.
Two hunters shooting at the same game.
Identifying what lies beyond an identified target.