Being a gun owner has its benefits, but while owning a gun comes with the satisfaction of knowing how to use it, you must prioritize you and your family’s safety. Both first-time and long-time owners may not be sure how to properly handle and store their home defense firearms. That’s why we put together a list of the most practical tips for responsible gun ownership.
Tip #1: Always Maintain Your Firearms
Even though you only plan to use your gun for dangerous situations, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t neglect to care for it. In fact, debris can impact how your gun performs. Regularly wipe down your firearm with a luster cloth to remove dirt and dust. Likewise, take care in removing gunpowder and oil from the action and barrel—preferably after every use.
Tip #2: Treat Your Firearm Like It’s Loaded
You may believe that you didn’t load your firearm, but who wants to take that chance? Whenever you’re handling your gun, assume you loaded it, and never point your gun at anyone or put your finger on its trigger unless you fully intend to use it. Otherwise, you may put yourself and others in harm’s way. If you absolutely need to make sure the gun isn’t loaded, check it in a safe direction.
Tip #3: Own a Gun Safe
We can identify a few key advantages to investing in a safe. First, a cool, dry environment is best for firearm storage, and in that case, a safe is suitable. Additionally, if somebody were to break into your home, they couldn’t steal your gun from secured storage. Further, a safe can prevent others—especially children—from having access to the firearm. Truly, it’s best to keep your firearm out of reach until you really need it. If you’re looking for a reliable solution, ShotLock has you covered. All the safes in our Solo-Vault™ collection keep your home defense guns secure. We even provide quick access wall mount gun safe options, so you can choose the device that best suits your needs.
Tip #4: Keep Your Firearm and Its Ammunition in Separate Spaces
Although it may make sense to store the two together at first, you must store your gun and ammunition separately. Again, we want to avoid accidental use and theft. In the event someone stumbles upon one of these items, they won’t be able to actually operate your gun because it is stored separately from the ammunition.
While we provided just a few practical tips for responsible gun ownership, we encourage you to continue learning about how you can be the safest firearm owner possible.