The Munster Police Department encourages residents to read through these important safety tips to help prevent accidents involving children and guns:
• Hiding a gun in a closet, drawer, or under a mattress is NOT safe storage. Safe storage is employing precautions and multiple safeguards that provide an additional barrier against unauthorized use.
• Unloaded firearms should be stored in a locked cabinet, safe, gun vault or storage case. The storage location should be inaccessible to children.
• Gun locking devices render firearms inoperable and can be used in addition to locked storage. If firearms are disassembled, parts should be securely stored in separate locations.
• Ammunition should be stored in a locked location separate from firearms.
• Thoroughly double check firearms to confirm they are unloaded when you remove them from storage. Accidents could occur if a family member borrows a gun and returns it to storage while still loaded.
• Talk with your children about what to do if they ever find a gun lying on the ground—tell everyone not to touch it and call for an adult while keeping everyone back.
• Encourage your children and teens to get an adult if they are ever at a friend’s home and their friend attempts to display a handgun to your child and other friends. They should do so immediately.
For more information, about gun safety, please visit www.projectchildsafe.org/parents-and-gun-owners/