Teach Children Proper Gun Safety

Spring soon arrives in the Upstate and that means people will be enjoying the great outdoors through activities like hunting.  Before you pick up that gun, learn proper safety, stresses Oconee County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Jimmy Watt.  “One thing that I learned early on about guns was basically just like anything else, you treat it with respect and you understand what a gun can do if it is not used properly, stored properly or whatever.  It is one of those things that you have to treat it with respect and understand what it does.” When storing guns in the home with small children present, teach them the dangers of guns.  Watt recommends using gun locks in the home.  “Certainly we recommend for handguns, the gun locks and we do have some of those at the Sheriff’s Office, so you can contact the Sheriff’s Office.” You must constantly stress safety when handling firearms, especially to children. Beginners, in particular, must be closely supervised when handling firearms with which they may not be acquainted.