Are you storing your gun safely? At A1 Lock and Safe, our locksmiths in Chapel Hill, NC, Durham, NC, and surrounding areas, for us, safety is paramount when it comes to gun ownership. Whether you are a parent, a newbie, or just want to refresh the fundamentals of gun safety, here is a list of ways to add needed gun safety in your home.

1. Store It Unloaded

As a general rule, firearms should be unloaded when not in use. Whenever you pick up a gun, like when you’re removing it from or returning it to storage, remember that it should be pointed in a safe direction and make absolutely sure that it’s unloaded. A “safe direction” means that the gun is pointed so that even if there was an accidental discharge, there wouldn’t be any injury.

2. Educate Yourself

As a gun owner in Chapel Hill, NC, it is so important that you know how your firearm operates. Do this by reading the manual on your firearm to know how to safely open and close the action of the firearm. The manual and other learning materials should also be able to tell you how to safely remove any ammunition from the firearm and the magazine.

Most importantly, make sure the young people in your home are aware of and understand the safety guidelines with firearms. Educate everyone in your family about firearms safety.

3. Invest in a Safe

Of course, most importantly, you need to make sure everything to do with your firearm is locked up. Store your firearms in a locked cabinet, safe, gun vault or storage case when you’re not using them, in a location inaccessible to children and cannot be handled by anyone without your permission. For another measure, store your ammunition in a locked location separate from firearms.

When choosing a safe, it’s always a great idea to rely on locksmiths in Chapel Hill, NC and surrounding areas that you can trust. We are A1 Lock and Safe of North Carolina, your Durham and Chapel Hill Locksmiths. Being local and family owned, we would appreciate nothing more than being your first choice for your locksmith and safety needs. Contact us today to inquire about the safes we currently have in stock.