As a gun owner, it is important to remember that with great power comes great responsibility. Owning a firearm means that you can protect yourself and your loved ones, but it also means that you are responsible for using your weapon safely and responsibly. Below are five basic ways that you can be a responsible gun owner.

Safe Storage

This means keeping it unloaded and out of reach of children or anyone else who should not have access to it. You should also have a lock on your gun safe or cabinet to ensure further safety. Other measures, such as trigger locks, can also be employed.

Safe storage is essential. Unfortunately, accidents happen where individuals who are not trained with weapons, such as children, retrieve a gun that is not stored. This can lead to bodily injury, harm to property, or even damage to the gun itself. Making sure your weapon is properly secured is the first step in being a responsible gun owner.

Weapon Knowledge

You should know the proper operation and maintenance of your firearm. This not only helps to avoid malfunction, but can also extend the life of your gun. By having a clear understanding of how your weapon operates and is constructed, you are more easily able to spot signs of wear and tear.

Learning how to load and unload the weapon safely while cleaning it is another important step in caring for your firearm and those around you. Cleaning a weapon can be dangerous if you are not confident in how to properly disassemble it. The worst-case scenario would involve accidentally firing the weapon. To avoid this, weapon knowledge is key. Additionally, when you’re not sure of how to clean your gun, it is easy to take apart the gun further than it needs. This can cause additional, unnecessary work to place it together again.

Be familiar with the different safety features of your gun. This will help you understand how to handle and store your weapon, and how to shoot it quickly. In the case of passing a loaded weapon from one person to another, it is important to be responsible and place the safety on to avoid any accidental shots. This minor step can save a lot in the long run.

Mindfulness of Surroundings

Be aware of who is around you and keep your firearm out of sight when it is not needed. Never point your gun at anyone, even if you are joking around. Being carefree with your weapon is a practice that could lead to dangerous consequences.

If you have a permit to carry your gun in public, consider keeping it concealed to avoid any potential altercations. Remember, not everyone is comfortable around firearms, so it is important to respect other people’s space and comfort levels. There are gun permit classes that give you the tools and understanding of how to carry in public. These informative courses build confidence in how to carry your gun safely and the proper etiquette involved.

Another situation to consider is hunting. It is important to be mindful that other individuals might also be in the woods. Being aware of this, and not assuming that you are alone on your hunting grounds, is key to the safety of others. If hunting with beginners, make sure to relay this message to them as well. It is important that everyone who has, or is near, a firearm is on the same page.

Gun ranges are another space that you should be mindful of. When walking around with your rented weapon, or if you brought your own, you should always hold the barrel down to the ground. Having the gun raised when not in use at the range could result in being banned from the range itself, as this poses a real threat to everyone in the building. Additionally, when returning the gun to the workers, always make sure it is not pointed at them. If you do point the gun towards the staff, even if unintentional, it could result in a negative encounter as they could infer that you intend to harm them.

Knowledge of Laws

Each state has different laws regarding firearms, so you must know the laws in your state before you purchase a gun. This is also an important step to take if you end up moving states. You want to avoid any sort of legal wrongdoing when taking your firearm into a new environment. Taking the time to look up your state’s regulations is important to maintain gun owner responsibility.

You should also be aware of the laws regarding concealed carry, open carry, and transport laws. This would involve knowing where you are and are not allowed to carry your gun. If you are used to open carry in your state and are moving or visiting another state with your gun, this would perhaps be the first law you would want to research. This is especially true if you’re in a habit of carrying openly.

Safe Shooting Practices

Understanding how to safely handle and shoot your gun is important. Even in similar models, there can be differences. Do not assume that you know how your new weapon works. Take the time to be thorough in your understanding so as to use the firearm as accurately as possible.

You should also know your surroundings and who or what is behind your target. Remember that bullets can travel through walls, so always be sure of your target before shooting. You also need to choose a good target to ensure safety. Never shoot at a hard surface, as ricochets can cause serious injury or death.

By following these five basic tips, you can be a responsible gun owner. Not only will these help you to have confidence in the use of your firearm, others will feel safe around you, too. If you take the time to educate yourself on gun safety and responsibility, you can be assured that your guns are safely used.