Firearms need sensible care and it starts with a consideration of the safety involved in their use. To prevent gun accidents there are many safety rules and code to observe and follow. Most likely, every conscientious shooter has already developed precautions and methods. And these have been a habitual practice.
Gun accidents will be avoided if every single gun safety rule is strictly and continuously followed by everyone. And one of that rules is: Never allow a gun to be pointed at a human being.
That rule is pretty simple but it takes some understanding and attention to detail in field application. Meaning, never point a loaded or even an unloaded gun at a person. Added to that, never place your guns anywhere or fall accidentally so that its muzzle is pointed to any individual. This also means not to lay guns in car seats. It also means not to point gun muzzles at oneself even while cleaning them.
If this very simple rule is observed religiously and put into practice, most possibilities and implications that result to tragic gun accidents will be eliminated.
Parents must instill safety in gun handling not when a youngster gets his first shotgun, rifles or pistols but when the toddler gets his first toy gun for his birthday or for Christmas and points at anybody. The child that told why, instructed firmly and continuously not to point a gun to anybody will definitely not become involved in gun accidents later.
The actual care of guns is divided into three categories such as home storage, transportation and field use. In each situation, there are different conditions that do exist and by which must be understood not only by gun owners and collectors but by every person. This is to prevent gun deterioration, injury and any accident that may happen.
Generally speaking, rust, corrosion, mechanical damage is the enemies of guns. Know that dampness induces rust. You must also remember that the incidence of salt in the air speeds up the rusting process of the guns. Chemical action is causing corrosion. It is from inadequate protection that new or used guns get damaged. As a result, rusting, corrosion and damage must be prevented.