Education is Key to Gun Safety

There are several gadgets available at gun shops that will secure yourweapon and keep your kids from firing it.But another key is to give your child a first class education on thegood and bad use of guns.

Those two steps could mean the difference between life and death if yourchild gets his hand on your gun.

Gregg Balch brings his 13-year-old son to the firing range not just toshoot, but to educate him on gun safety

Listen toauorreal audiofiles."The first thing we taught him was that the weapon is alwaysloaded, so if you pick it up it's loaded. The second thing he learned wasthe safety on a gun. The third thing he learned was never touch a gununless dad is around."

Even when there is no one around, gun instructor Steven Rakes says thereare things you can buy to keep your gun from firing when you don't wantthem to.

There is a trigger lock that resembles a bike lock, a cable lock thatloops through the trigger of the weapon, and an inter-tube band.

Listen toauorreal audiofiles."It goes over the muzzle of the firearm, and thehammer children under the age of six do not possess the physical strengthto manipulate that."

Rakes says you can also buy gun boxes that come with a lock, or a steeltraveling box.

Listen toauorreal audiofiles."It has a sequence lock, after two or three failed attempts to openit, it will lock up."

Balch does have a trigger guard and keeps his guns unloaded in a safe.But Greg and his son still believe one of the best way to keep safe isthrough education.

Listen toauorreal audiofiles."I know how to handle it without messing up, without hurtingme or someone else."

Most of those protective items also let parents know if their child hastampered with the gun.

If you have a lot of guns, you can also buy a gun vault which is aboutthe size of a refrigerator to store them.