‘Importance of gun safety is paramount’
Published July 11, 2022
By Andrew Mundhenk, Henderson County Dept. of Public Health
Prevention is a key aspect of many public health activities. When it comes to proper gun safety in the home, preventative measures can be the difference between life and unnecessary death among children and teens.
“The importance of gun safety is paramount,” said Lt. Scott Galloway of the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office. “Minors gaining access to firearms in the home raise the risk of unintentional firearm-related death and injury among children.”
Galloway said firearms and other weapons are used for several reasons, including hunting, work and self-defense. Ensuring people understand the importance of gun safety, he said, is achieved through proper education and training.
“Training is very important not only when it comes to learning, storing and using the firearm, but also when it comes to educating children and other family members on the importance of gun safety,” said Galloway.
Galloway serves as a member of Henderson County’s Child Fatality Prevention Team (CFPT). State law requires counties to form CFPTs that meet regularly to review the fatalities of county residents under the age of 18. The team’s purpose is to identify preventable causes of death and make recommendations or take action when needed.
Some actions sparked by recommendations from local child fatality prevention teams in North Carolina include bicycle helmet laws, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) prevention education, the Period of Purple Crying education for the prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome and the Safe Surrender Law.
The members of Henderson County’s Child Fatality Prevention Team represent public and nonpublic agencies in the community that provide services to children and their families as well as other individuals who represent the community. Recently, the team has stressed the importance of firearm safety for gun owners and their families.
In the most recent statewide annual report, the 2020 North Carolina Child Fatality Prevention Team Annual Summary states nine underage deaths occurred from accidental firearm injuries in the state and 30 suicides from the use of a firearm.
“Safely storing guns can prevent tragic child deaths,” said Dr. Diana Curran, Medical Director for the Henderson County Department of Public Health and CFPT member. “We urge gun owners to be responsible and thoughtful about storing their weapons and ammunition where children cannot access them.
“Whether you store your gun at home or in your vehicle, remember to always keep guns locked up and away from curious young hands,” Curran added. “Minors can be impulsive and make bad choices in a hard moment. Preventing access to loaded guns could save their life.”
Firearm safety tips
The Henderson County Sheriff’s Office offers several tips on proper firearm safety:
- Always keep a firearm’s muzzle pointed in a safe direction. A “safe direction” means that the gun is pointed so that even if a negligent discharge occurred, it would not result in injury.
- Always keep your finger off the trigger until you intend to shoot. When handling a gun, rest your finger outside the trigger guard or along the side of the gun. Don’t touch the trigger until you are ready to fire.
- Firearms should be unloaded when not actually in use. Whenever you pick up a gun, such as when removing it from or returning it to storage, remember to point it in a safe direction and ensure it is unloaded.
- Be certain you understand how your firearm operates: read the manual on your firearm, know how to safely open and close the action of the firearm and know how to safely remove any ammunition from the firearm and its magazine.
- Store your firearms in a locked cabinet, safe, gun vault or storage case when not in use, ensuring they are in a location inaccessible by children and cannot be handled by anyone without your permission.
- Store your ammunition in a locked location separate from firearms.
- Use a gun locking device that renders the firearm inoperable when not in use. A gun lock should be used as an additional safety precaution and not as a substitute for secure storage.
- Make sure young people in your home are aware of and understand the safety guidelines concerning firearms. Teach young children, even though it shouldn’t happen, to make sure that if they find an unattended firearm in their home or a neighbor’s to not touch it and tell an adult.
- Always unload, clean, and place your firearms in their secure storage location immediately after use.
- Educate everyone in your family about firearms safety.
Andrew Mundhenk is the Communications Manager for the Henderson County Department of Public Health.
