Accidental child shootings: A parent’s worst nightmare
The prime responsibility for a child’s safety rests squarely on his or her parents.
Losing a child as a result of a firearm-related incident is probably a parent’s worst nightmare.
Considering this festive season many families will be visiting loved ones who own guns, the very last thing one would want is such a tragedy.
The Herald therefore approached the SA Gunowners’ Association about firearm safety, should children accidentally get their hands on a firearm, and how parents should be extremely responsible.
The parents’ responsibility
The prime responsibility for a child’s safety rests squarely on his or her parents.
In a home where guns are kept, good parents must be careful to display (and insist that others display) safe gun-handling, responsible use and good gun manners.
Whether gunowners or not, all caring parents have the great responsibility of ensuring their children’s safety by teaching them about the dangers they may encounter – whether from a stranger, a hot stove, medicine, a bottle of paraffin, fire, electricity, swimming pool, … or a firearm.
Talking with your child about gun safety
A good time to introduce the subject may be the first time he or she is old enough to show an interest – even if in toy pistols or rifles.
Talking openly and honestly about firearm safety is much more effective than simply ordering your child to “Stay away from guns”.
Such statements may just stimulate a child’s natural curiosity to investigate further. Explain the rules and answer his or her questions to promote proper understanding and respect – the core of safety.
Any rules set for your own child should also apply to any visitors to the home – your friends as well as your child’s visitors.
This will help keep your child from being pressured into showing a gun to a friend. These same rules also apply when you and your family visit friends and family at their homes.
Toy guns vs. real guns
It is also advisable, particularly with very young children, to discuss the difference between real life and ‘acting’.
Firearms are often handled carelessly in movies and on TV, and so many ‘shot and killed’ actors reappear on screens that children can be forgiven for thinking that gunshot wounds and ‘deaths’ are not permanent.
Make sure your child knows the difference between being “killed” on TV and in reality.
If your child has toy guns, you may want to use them to demonstrate safe gun handling and to explain how they differ from genuine firearms.
Safe storage
Make sure your ‘real’ guns (including BB and pellet guns) and ammunition are inaccessible to unsupervised children and all unauthorised persons.
All gunowners have a statutory duty in terms of the Firearms Control Act to safeguard in a locked prescribed safe, any firearm that is not worn on the owner’s person or is not under her or his direct control.
The law also prescribes that the keys to the safe must be under control and not accessible to unauthorised persons.
Gunowners must ensure that should they keep a firearm ready for self-defence, such firearm must at all times be under their direct control.
Often children are very responsible and would not touch their parents’ firearm but the temptation might be there to show a “real gun” to visiting friends.
A greater problem is when a visiting friend wants to “see with his hands”.
Depending on the particular circumstances, it might be best to place the unloaded firearm in a drawer while the owner carries the ammunition on her or his person. Never underestimate the ingenuity of children in finding a hidden gun.
It goes without saying that gun owners have a moral and legal responsibility to prevent guns from landing in the hands of criminals and any unauthorised persons.
They must ensure that at all times they have effective control over their firearms, irrespective of whether the firearm is at home or on the person.
A firearm on the person must be carried concealed in a holster or other suitable container and, at home (or the office), unless it is under your direct control, it must be locked away in a prescribed safe. It may not be left unattended in a vehicle.
Be a good role model
Set the right example for your children by making your good gun manners and safety procedures clearly obvious even to the casual onlooker.
‘Slick handling’ by an experienced gun owner may be all very well (and safe) but your first objective when in the presence of others – especially your children – should be to show them that you respect your firearms and that there are no exceptions to safety rules.
Firearm safety depends on you
What should you teach your child about gun safety?
If you have decided that your child is not yet ready to be trained in gun handling and use, you should explain he or she must never touch a gun unless you are present and have given permission.
As it is possible that your child could come across a gun outside her or his home, you should also teach him or her to adhere to the following basic safety instructions:
- 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 flat or house.
Tell an adult emphasises that children should seek (or phone) a trustworthy adult – neighbour, relative, teacher – if a parent or guardian is not available.
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