Why Attend a Firearm Safety Class?
Gun safety is serious business. Whether you own a firearm, are thinking about purchasing a gun or just concerned about gun safety, it’s a good idea to attend a firearm safety class with a knowledgeable and experienced instructor.
A comprehensive firearm safety class should teach you how to avoid firearm accidents, protect children from potential harm caused by firearms, and gain hands-on experience using a firearm.
Avoid Accidents
Firearm safety is important to all citizens, and while no one wants firearm accidents to happen, they do every day.
According to a survey from the Pew Research Center, about 42% of people in the US live in households with guns. This means that even if you don’t own a gun, chances are you know someone who does. Therefore, it’s important to understand how to behave responsibly around a weapon, as you may come into contact with one whether you own one or not.
While there’s no way to guarantee safety, many accidental shootings can be prevented if firearm owners act responsibly.
If you do choose to become a gun owner yourself, it’s your responsibility to ensure that it is used and stored safely to minimize the chances of it causing unwanted harm. A firearm safety class is the first step in accident prevention.
Protect Children
Firearm accidents involving children are especially disturbing. On average, 5,790 children in the United States receive medical treatment in an emergency room each year for a gun-related injury, and about 21% of those injuries are unintentional according to the study, published in the journal Pediatrics.
Having easy access to loaded firearms in homes is often a contributing factor in accidental shootings of children. Even if children do not live in your home, as a responsible gun owner, you must have working knowledge of the methods of childproofing your firearm whenever children could be around. This includes your own, a friend’s, relative’s or a neighbor’s children.
By attending a firearm safety class, you’ll learn the safest way to store a gun in the home to avoid access to children.
Hands-on Training
When you learned to drive a car, you likely had an experienced driver by your side teaching you the rules of the road and how to operate the vehicle safely. You probably also engaged in behind the wheel training, practicing driving the car prior to taking the test for your driver’s license.
You should take a similar approach to firearm ownership. The best way to become skilled with and confident around guns is to gain an understanding of how to operate a firearm in a hands-on training course.
How to Become a Safe and Responsible Firearm Owner
Becoming a safe firearm owner begins with solid knowledge of your weapon and its parts, the basic skills operating it, and a safety mindset dedicated to responsible use and storage. This mindset requires:
- A healthy respect for the dangerous nature of firearms
- An awareness of the possible safety hazards related to firearms
- A willingness to learn and practice safe conduct with firearms
Developing a mindset for safe and responsible firearm usage and storage is the first step in responsible firearm ownership. The next critical step is building your knowledge of firearm safety, which you can do by attending a firearm safety class.
The final steps are becoming skillful in handling firearms through careful practice and applying the safety knowledge that you’ve acquired from an experienced firearm safety instructor.
Who Should Attend a Firearm Safety Class?
New and Experienced Gun Owners – Every firearm owner has a responsibility to understand and follow firearm safety best practices, have a basic understanding of the operation of their firearm, and be fully aware of the responsibility that inherently comes with gun ownership. Whether you’re an experienced shooter or first-time handgun owner, a firearm safety class will prepare you to shoot safely and responsibly. A good instructor will teach the core fundamentals of gun safety in the home, including how to properly handle, transport, and store your gun, as well as how to keep children safe around guns.
Those Considering Gun Ownership – Firearm safety classes prepare you for gun ownership by helping you make knowledgeable decisions about what type of handgun is best for you and how to properly shoot it and safely store it.
Those Concerned About Gun Safety – Having a gun in the home or simply knowing how to fire a gun can be the difference between life and death. However, not taking the time to learn how to use and store a firearm carefully can put your loved one’s safety at risk. It’s crucial that the entire family is educated on gun safety if there’s going to be a gun in the home. A thorough firearm safety class will provide peace of mind, knowing that you aren’t putting your family in danger by having a firearm.
What to Look for in a Firearm Safety Instructor
One of the most important deciding factors in choosing a firearm safety class is the experience level of the instructor. Current or former law enforcement or military personnel with years of training and experience handling firearms in high-pressure situations make some of the best gun safety instructors.
Avoid instructors who overtly brag about their large gun collections or marksmanship or hunting abilities. Instead, opt for an instructor who takes firearm safety seriously and communicates the huge responsibility that comes along with firearm use and ownership to the class.
Why Knight Protection Services?
A veteran-owned and operated company, Knight Protection Services employs a diverse group of security professionals with more than 20 years of law enforcement, military, and security service experience. We have first-hand knowledge of what you need to be proactive about protecting yourself, your family, and your property.
Our founder, Zackary A. Knight, currently serves as an Infantry Lieutenant and platoon leader in the United States Army Georgia National Guard. Before joining the Army, Zack spent seven years serving as a police officer in the Smyrna community where he grew up. Zack founded Knight Protection Services as a way to protect and serve the community, by providing solutions that deter crimes and prevent citizens from victimization.
Military personnel and law enforcement veterans possess a wealth of knowledge, undergo extensive training and offer invaluable experience regarding carrying, handling, and shooting guns in a safe and controlled manner.
