Firearm safety: Tips that can prevent injury and save lives

Even the most proficient sportsmen and hunting enthusiasts may need a refresher course on how to safely store their firearms. The National Rifle Association (NRA) advocates that guns should be stored so they are not accessible to unauthorized persons. Many safe storage devices for guns are available: safes, lock boxes, trigger and cable locks, and secure gun cabinets.



The NRA supports three additional tips on safe gun handling:



* Keep the gun unloaded until ready to use.



Remove the ammunition source, open the action, visually and physically inspect the chamber and magazine area, which should be clear of ammunition, and leave the action open.



* Keep a gun pointed in a safe direction.



This is a primary rule of gun safety. A safe direction means the gun is pointed in a way that if it is discharged, it will not cause any injury or damage.



* Keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot your firearm.



When holding a gun, rest your trigger finger outside the trigger guard, alongside the gun. Until you are ready to shoot, do not touch the trigger.



Today, gun owners can make safety even more rewarding. Stack-On Products Company, a leading manufacturer of security cabinets, safes and tool storage systems, is sponsoring "Keep 'Em Safe - Locked and Unloaded," a pledge to encourage firearms owners to safely store their guns. By taking the pledge, firearms owners will benefit the Shoot for a Cure charity, which raises funds for leukemia and multiple sclerosis research through clay sport shooting fund-raisers. Gun owners can visit Stack-On's online pledge page, and when they complete the pledge form, Stack-On will make a monetary donation on behalf of their household - up to $20,000 total. Hunting celebrities Steve West of Steve's Outdoor Adventures, Willie Robertson of Duck Commander, and Jason Aldean and Tombo Martin of Buck Commander have endorsed the campaign to help spread awareness of safe firearm storage.



For more information on the safe gun storage pledge program, visit www.stack-on.com or call (800) 323-9601.



If you're unsure how to handle, use and store your guns safely, why not take a class? A number of organizations, including the NRA (www.nrainstructors.org) and many local police departments, offer free courses on safe gun handling.