Talk to your children about guns and violence. Explain that weapons are not toys and that kids should never play with them. Tell your kids that if they see an unlocked gun in a friend’s house, they should stay away from it and inform you about it immediately.
If you have a gun in your home, unload it and lock it away; store the bullets in a separate place, also under lock. Hide the keys. When your children are older, make sure they get training in gun safety.
Get to know the parents of your children’s friends. The more you know, the easier it is to spot potential danger away from home. Ask other parents if they have a gun, and if they do, ask whether it’s locked up. This is a difficult conversation, but it’s important because nearly half of all accidental shootings of kids under 16 take place in the homes of friends and relatives.
Never leave young children home alone, even for just a few minutes. As your children get older, make sure you always know where they are and who their friends are. Studies show that unsupervised children have the most behavior problems and are most likely to resolve conflicts with violence.
Encourage your local school to develop a violence-education program that includes information about gun safety as well as conflict resolution. These programs are not just for teenagers; even children in early elementary school can benefit.
Monitor what your kids watch on TV and in the movies. Scenes of explicit violence should be off limits for school-age children. Young kids aren’t able to distinguish between what looks like reality on screen and real life.
Remember that you are your child’s primary role model. If you carry a gun, you could send your kid the message that guns solve disputes.
