The United States has the highest number of guns and gun owners per capita than any other country, nearly 393 million guns in all. With all of the guns in the U.S., it’s important to practice gun safety and safe storage at home, in the car, or on your person. Here are some tips for gun safety.

Where Can I Practice?

One of the most frequent places where gun emergencies happen is in backyards. In most areas of the United States, you cannot practice shooting in your backyard. In fact, negligent security shooting lawyers note that in many areas, you cannot shoot within 250 yards of another building, such as a home. Be sure that you practice good gun safety by practicing at an indoor or outdoor shooting range. If you own a lot of land, you can practice shooting there. Look at your local and state laws before you load up to practice.

Safety Around Guns at Home

The first rule of gun safety at home is to treat every gun as if it is loaded with bullets. That way, you will always be on guard and handle guns carefully.

If you have small children, never allow them to play with a gun. You might want to begin teaching them about gun safety and how to properly handle guns. Also, with small children, you may want to get gun locks or a gun safe to protect your guns when you are not at home. This is especially important with small children because they are constantly exploring. While some gun locks make it difficult to get to your gun when you need it, the latest gun locks use fingerprints and open quickly.

While you’re teaching your children or other family members about gun safety, be sure that you teach them about pointing a gun. Most gun experts tell you to never point a gun at anything you don’t intend to shoot. If you are cleaning your gun, be sure that you aren’t pointing at anything except the floor.

Safety In Your Car

Many states allow you to keep a gun in the car. If you have a gun in the car, one of the first rules you need to keep in mind is where to store it. While many people place guns under the driver’s seat or even in the storage area between seats, the safest place to store your gun in the car is in a locking glove compartment. Like your home, you may want to apply a gun lock to the gun if you decide to keep it in your car.

If you happen to be pulled over for speeding or another traffic offense, you’ll want to tell the police officer where your gun is. Depending on the officer, they may want you to take the gun out, or leave it where it is stored. Another option for gun storage in vehicles is a locking gun case. Locking gun cases are available for nearly every type of gun, so be sure and look at your local gun store. These gun cases ensure that children or pets aren’t able to access your gun while you’re driving or sitting in a drive-thru.

One other tip for gun safety in the car. If the only time you have a gun in the car is when you are traveling from place to place after hunting or practice, unload your gun before you get into the car. If you make it a habit to unload your gun before you step into your car, you’ll be less likely to forget and enter your car with a loaded gun.

Personal Gun Safety

What if you carry a gun with you at all times? Here are some tips for personal gun safety. First, you need to get a holster, a special purse, or a briefcase that contains an area for guns. These special containers will keep your gun safe while allowing you to access it easily. Also, once you remove the gun from a container, keep your finger off the trigger and muzzle pointed towards the ground to avoid any type of accidental shooting. Be aware when handling the gun what is in front of you and what is behind you, to avoid accidents.

No matter whether you keep guns at home, in your car, or you carry them on your person, learning gun safety will prevent a lot of accidents. No responsible gun owner wants to shoot someone unless it is absolutely necessary. By keeping these tips in mind, you or someone you love are far less likely to be the victim of a gun accident.