Gun ownership carries great responsibility. Knowing the basics of gun safety and how to store firearms properly is crucial to protecting children and others from gun accidents.

If you own a gun for sport or protection, your child should not have access to it. Keep all guns and ammunition out of reach. Store them separately in locked cases, with trigger locks on the guns. Even if you don't have a gun at home, talk to your child about gun safety. Your child's friends may have guns in their homes, or your child may come across a gun elsewhere. Make sure he or she knows what to do. Sit down with your child and set the rules in a family meeting. Answer all of your child's questions. If guns are not a mystery, his or her natural curiosity may decrease. Use a log book to record when you talk about, maintain, or purchase a gun.

Make sure your child knows what to do around guns. Discuss the following rules:

• Never touch a gun! Leave it as you find it. Tell other kids not to touch it either.
• Never keep knowledge of a gun a secret. Tell an adult if you see a gun, even if you are not sure it's a real gun.
• If you see someone with a gun, go away. You should then tell an adult immediately.