Gun Safety (VA)(Fairfax County)
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Bruce Jackson
Oct 17, 2012, 2:13:53 PM10/17/12
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http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/police/stations/franconia/bulletins/20121011gunsafety.htm
http://tinyurl.com/cqe4wvu
Gun Safety
Fairfax County Police Department
Franconia District Station
6121 Franconia Road, Alexandria, VA 22310
703-922-0889. TTY 711. Fax 703-719-6436
www.fairfaxcounty.gov/police/stations/franconia
Date Released 10/11/12
Contact: Officer Roger Henriquez/ 703-922-0889
Information Bulletin: Gun Safety
Gun Safety Starts at Home
The Fairfax County Police Department has seen an increase in firearms
related accidents which occur in residences. While we enjoy our
freedom as US Citizens to own firearms, utmost safety should be
exercised when handling firearms, especially at home. The Fairfax
County Police Department would like to further promote this safety by
giving citizens in Fairfax County safety tips when handling firearms
in their home.
BASIC GUN SAFETY RULES FOR THE HOME
- Always treat guns as if they are loaded. Always keep the gun
pointed in a safe direction. Whether you are shooting or simply
handling a gun, never point it at yourself or others. Common sense
should dictate which direction is safest. In a single family or
townhouse for example, the lowest floor of the residence such as the
basement is generally the safest place to point the gun. Being mindful
of the fact that a bullet can penetrate ceilings, floors, walls,
windows and doors.
- Always keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot.
Whether loading or unloading a gun, rest your finger outside the
trigger guard alongside the gun. Do not touch the trigger.
- Always keep the gun unloaded until ready to use. If you do not
know how to check to see if a gun is unloaded, leave it alone.
Carefully secure it, being certain to point it safely and to keep you
finger off the trigger. Seek the advice of a person in the household
who is knowledgeable in handling firearms for assistance.
- Keep firearms secured in approved gun lockers or safes. Keep
ammunition separated. By separating ammunition from the firearm, it
will further ensure safety in the household in case there is any
unauthorized handling of the firearm. Gun locks are also encouraged as
an added level of security.
PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY
In a home where guns are kept, an even higher degree of safety must be
exercised when there are children in the household. It is critical
that parents accept this responsibility to learn, practice and teach
gun safety rules to ensure their children’s safety to a much greater
extent.
Speak with your children about gun safety. Talking openly and honestly
about gun safety with your child is usually more effective. Telling
them to “stay out of the area of the house” may stimulate a child’s
natural curiosity to investigate it further.
When giving a safety lesson to your children, explaining the rules and
answering their questions will help remove the curiosity regarding
guns. Any rules you set for your children to follow should also apply
to any friends who visit the home.
It is also important to discuss the use of guns on television as
opposed to gun use in real life. Firearms are often handled
inappropriately or carelessly in movies and in television. Explain to
the child the difference between real life results and what happens in
a movie or television.
If you decide that your child is not ready to engage in this type of
conversation, teach them to follow The NRA’s Eddie Eagle Gunsafe
program instructions:
STOP! - DON’T TOUCH - Leave the Area - Tell an Adult.
Lastly, we would like to note a few code sections that relate to
firearms in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
18.2-56.2 – Allowing access to firearms by children; penalty.
It shall be unlawful for any person to recklessly leave a loaded,
unsecured firearm in such a manner as to endanger the life or limb of
any child under the age of fourteen. Any person violating the
provisions of this subsection shall be guilty of a Class 3
misdemeanor.
18.2-56.1 - Reckless handling of firearms.
It shall be unlawful to for any person to handle recklessly any
firearm as to endanger the life, limb or property of any person.
18.2-279 – Discharging firearms or missiles within or at
building or dwelling house. If any person maliciously discharges a
firearm within any building when occupied by one or more person in
such a manner as to endanger the life or lives of such person or
persons, or maliciously shoots at or throws any missile at or against
any dwelling house or other building when occupied by one or more
persons, whereby the life or lives of any such person or person may be
put in peril, the person so is guilty of a Class 4 Felony.
The safety of our citizens we serve in Fairfax County is paramount.
These safety tips are not intended as a complete course in gun safety
and are not a substitute for formal qualified instruction in handling,
the use or storage of firearms. These safety tips should be considered
to minimize the chance of an accident occurring at home.
###
To request this information in an alternate format, call the Franconia
District Station at 703.922.0889. TTY 711
--
Have you remembered to sign up for the VA-ALERT yet? If so,
are you enjoying it? If not, what are you waiting for? It's FREE!
just click
http://www.vcdl.org/va-alert.html
http://tinyurl.com/cqe4wvu
Gun Safety
Fairfax County Police Department
Franconia District Station
6121 Franconia Road, Alexandria, VA 22310
703-922-0889. TTY 711. Fax 703-719-6436
www.fairfaxcounty.gov/police/stations/franconia
Date Released 10/11/12
Contact: Officer Roger Henriquez/ 703-922-0889
Information Bulletin: Gun Safety
Gun Safety Starts at Home
The Fairfax County Police Department has seen an increase in firearms
related accidents which occur in residences. While we enjoy our
freedom as US Citizens to own firearms, utmost safety should be
exercised when handling firearms, especially at home. The Fairfax
County Police Department would like to further promote this safety by
giving citizens in Fairfax County safety tips when handling firearms
in their home.
BASIC GUN SAFETY RULES FOR THE HOME
- Always treat guns as if they are loaded. Always keep the gun
pointed in a safe direction. Whether you are shooting or simply
handling a gun, never point it at yourself or others. Common sense
should dictate which direction is safest. In a single family or
townhouse for example, the lowest floor of the residence such as the
basement is generally the safest place to point the gun. Being mindful
of the fact that a bullet can penetrate ceilings, floors, walls,
windows and doors.
- Always keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot.
Whether loading or unloading a gun, rest your finger outside the
trigger guard alongside the gun. Do not touch the trigger.
- Always keep the gun unloaded until ready to use. If you do not
know how to check to see if a gun is unloaded, leave it alone.
Carefully secure it, being certain to point it safely and to keep you
finger off the trigger. Seek the advice of a person in the household
who is knowledgeable in handling firearms for assistance.
- Keep firearms secured in approved gun lockers or safes. Keep
ammunition separated. By separating ammunition from the firearm, it
will further ensure safety in the household in case there is any
unauthorized handling of the firearm. Gun locks are also encouraged as
an added level of security.
PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY
In a home where guns are kept, an even higher degree of safety must be
exercised when there are children in the household. It is critical
that parents accept this responsibility to learn, practice and teach
gun safety rules to ensure their children’s safety to a much greater
extent.
Speak with your children about gun safety. Talking openly and honestly
about gun safety with your child is usually more effective. Telling
them to “stay out of the area of the house” may stimulate a child’s
natural curiosity to investigate it further.
When giving a safety lesson to your children, explaining the rules and
answering their questions will help remove the curiosity regarding
guns. Any rules you set for your children to follow should also apply
to any friends who visit the home.
It is also important to discuss the use of guns on television as
opposed to gun use in real life. Firearms are often handled
inappropriately or carelessly in movies and in television. Explain to
the child the difference between real life results and what happens in
a movie or television.
If you decide that your child is not ready to engage in this type of
conversation, teach them to follow The NRA’s Eddie Eagle Gunsafe
program instructions:
STOP! - DON’T TOUCH - Leave the Area - Tell an Adult.
Lastly, we would like to note a few code sections that relate to
firearms in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
18.2-56.2 – Allowing access to firearms by children; penalty.
It shall be unlawful for any person to recklessly leave a loaded,
unsecured firearm in such a manner as to endanger the life or limb of
any child under the age of fourteen. Any person violating the
provisions of this subsection shall be guilty of a Class 3
misdemeanor.
18.2-56.1 - Reckless handling of firearms.
It shall be unlawful to for any person to handle recklessly any
firearm as to endanger the life, limb or property of any person.
18.2-279 – Discharging firearms or missiles within or at
building or dwelling house. If any person maliciously discharges a
firearm within any building when occupied by one or more person in
such a manner as to endanger the life or lives of such person or
persons, or maliciously shoots at or throws any missile at or against
any dwelling house or other building when occupied by one or more
persons, whereby the life or lives of any such person or person may be
put in peril, the person so is guilty of a Class 4 Felony.
The safety of our citizens we serve in Fairfax County is paramount.
These safety tips are not intended as a complete course in gun safety
and are not a substitute for formal qualified instruction in handling,
the use or storage of firearms. These safety tips should be considered
to minimize the chance of an accident occurring at home.
###
To request this information in an alternate format, call the Franconia
District Station at 703.922.0889. TTY 711
--
Have you remembered to sign up for the VA-ALERT yet? If so,
are you enjoying it? If not, what are you waiting for? It's FREE!
just click
http://www.vcdl.org/va-alert.html
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