Alachua County Sheriff's Office

Gun Safety

It is vital that you talk with your children about guns, but this can be a difficult conversation to have. The discussion must be age-appropriate and offer children clear instructions about avoiding guns without adult supervision.

Children are naturally curious, especially when it comes to guns. Make sure your children understand the difference between a toy gun and a real gun, and the difference between pretend and real life.

All parents must take common sense steps to protect children both by talking to them about guns and the dangers of careless handling of any weapon. Gun ownership is a coveted right of Americans guaranteed by our constitution. But with our rights comes our responsibility.

YOU THINK YOU CAN HIDE YOUR HANDGUN FROM YOUR CHILDREN...

If you keep a gun in your house, make sure you tell your children that this gun is real.

• Keep your ammunition and gun stored separately.
• Discuss the difference between real guns and toys guns.
• There are many educational gun safety programs available for parents and children.
• There are a variety of safes, cases, and other security devices available to secure your gun.

What Should You Teach Your Child About Gun Safety?

Stop! Don’t Touch. Leave the Area. Tell an Adult.

The initial steps of "Stop" and "Don’t Touch" are the most important. To counter the natural impulse to touch a gun, it is imperative that you impress these steps of the safety message upon your child.

In today’s society, where adult supervision is not always possible, the direction to "Leave the Area" is also essential. Under some circumstances, "area" may be understood to be a room if your child cannot physically leave the apartment or house.

"Tell an Adult" emphasizes that children should seek out a law enforcement officer, trustworthy adult, neighbor, relative, or teacher — if a parent or guardian is not available.

Gun Owners' Responsibilities-
790.174 Safe Storage of Firearms Required

(1) A person who stores or leaves, on a premise under his or her control, a loaded firearm, as defined in s. 790.001, and who knows or reasonably should know that a minor is likely to gain access to the firearm without the lawful permission of the minor’s parent or the person having charge of the minor, or without the supervision required by law, shall keep the firearm in a securely locked box or container or in a location which a reasonable person would believe to be secure or shall secure it with a trigger lock, except when the person is carrying the firearm on his or her body or within such close proximity thereto that he or she can retrieve and use it as easily and quickly as if he or she carried it on his or her body.

For more information on Gun laws: http://www.leg.state.fl.us

Unload it and lock it up.
The Child You Save May Be Your Own.