Safety Tips For Gun Owners

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COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)-Owning a firearm is always a hot topic.

That’s why The Columbus Police Department held a civilian gun safety class earlier today.

The purpose was to show gun owners how to properly operate their gun and learn all of the safety aspects that comes with it.

“I’ve had guns, I’ve had guns for years, but I wasn’t that comfortable with it,” gun owner Octavia Dickerson said.

And Dickerson isn’t alone.

In today’s time Many people are buying firearms for protection.

But as Columbus Police Officers James Hanson tells me, owning a gun comes with responsibility.

“They do need to know how to properly use them, and the responsibility lies up on them whether or not they realize it, they are fully responsible, to be held for everything that they do with that gun,” Columbus Police Officer James Hanson said.

And to make sure everyone is responsible, Hanson showed gun-owners the proper techniques and safety aspects of operating the firearms.

“The main thing is treat every gun as if it’s loaded, whether you know it is or not, always assume that it’s loaded,” Hanson said. “The second thing is, don’t ever touch the trigger until you are ready to shoo, and always keep the muzzle facing away from you, and as a responsible gun owner, if you ever fire that weapon, you’re responsible for what happens, and the consequences of it.”

 
Hanson says he hopes none of these individuals will ever come into a situation where they’ll have to defend themselves with a firearm, but, if that situation does occur, he wants them to be prepared.

 
“If you feel comfortable with your gun, then maybe you’ll know what to do in that situation in your head, cooler heads prevail as they say,” Dickerson said.

Then, once you learn how to operate your firearm, Hanson says it become repetition.

“If you do have a weapon and you know how to safely and properly use it, it is key to be able to, it is imperative that you come out and practice every so often so you don’t lose the skill of shooting,” Hanson said.

 
If you are interested in visiting the gun range for practice, be sure to contact the columbus police department.