Leonard Gray / L’Observateur / July 17, 1998

LAPLACE – It’s summertime, and children are playing in and around the house. For the gun owner, it’s an especially dangerous time. Young children sometimes may discover a gun and ammunition and decide to play with them, which could lead to tragic consequences.

Lt. Sam Moody, training officer for the St. John the Baptist ParishSheriff’s Office with 20 years’ experience, says the way to head off this possible scenario is, first and foremost, education.

“The best thing you can do is educate your children,” Moody emphasized.

“A handgun’s sole purpose is self-defense.”Moody continued, “The fear factor throws us.” He explained people fearwhat they do not understand. Education brings understanding, he stressed.Most accidents involve either improper storage or improper handling of firearms, he said.

Children must be taught that firearms are not toys to play with. Thefirearm must be stored separately from its ammunition. Gun dealers alsosell devices, such as trigger locks, to further safeguard weapons.

Moody reviewed several common-sense suggestions to insure children (and adults) don’t injure themselves or other people.

* Treat all firearms, loaded or unloaded, as if they were loaded at all times. When a handgun is picked up, touched or handed from one person toanother, it is immediately checked to make sure it is not loaded.

Each time a firearm changes hands, it must be checked.

“Think of the safety factor first,” Moody said, “then everything else falls into place.”* Never point the muzzle of a firearm at a person unless you intend to shoot that person. That applies to all firearms, even when you absolutelyknow it is unloaded.

* Do not touch the trigger, unless you are about to use it. Train your fingerto stay out of the trigger guard.

* Be sure of your target. Do not fire at a shadow or a noise or into a darkarea where you are not sure of your target.

A hunter gun-safety class, required of all hunters but open and free of charge, is run by the sheriff’s office and funded by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. The next class is set July 21-24.Call Lt. Greg “Za” Maurin at 652-9513, 536-4176 or 497-3435 for moreinformation.

Return To News Stories