Owning a gun brings about a set of responsibilities, not the least of which is gun safety. The National Rifle Association (NRA) has a series of guidelines and gun safety rules that all gun owners should be aware of.

When handling a gun, the following gun safety guidelines should be adhered to:

1. Always keep your gun pointed in the safest direction.
2. Always keep your finger free of the trigger until ready to shoot.
3. Do not store a loaded gun—unload it until ready for use.

Certain gun safety rules should also be followed when using your weapon:

1. Know your target but also what is in the surrounding area.
2. Be certain the gun is safe to operate.
3. Only use the correct ammunition type for your gun.
4. Wear eye protection and ear protection whenever appropriate.
5. Avoid any alcohol or drugs, including over the counter medicine, when operating a gun.

If you have children in the house or visiting, these gun storage guidelines are equally important in gun safety:

1. Take the ammunition out of the gun.
2. Lock the gun and keep it out of reach of children.
3. Lock the ammunition and store it apart from the gun.
4. Keep the keys out of reach of children.

Firearms training is recommended for anyone new to gun ownership, or anyone who has recently purchased a new gun. While a basic gun safety class may not be necessary for a seasoned hunter, every gun is different and it is wise to take the time to learn the ins and outs of each new gun you purchase with the help of a professional trainer.

To find a firearms training course in your area, look no further than the nearest shooting range. Most shooting ranges offer a variety of classes, from gun safety 101, to pistol shooting, to rifle handling and more. Once you’ve mastered proper gun safety, you will be able to enjoy the added security gun ownership can provide.

Eddie Eagle Gun Safety Tips for Kids and Parents

Having a gun and a child in the same home makes gun safety an integral part of the parenting process. With firearms in close to 50 percent of all American homes, gun safety is actually a topic every parent should embrace.

Stop and Don’t Touch

Counter your child’s natural curiosity about guns by teaching him or her to stop and back away from any firearms.

Leave the Area

Since parental supervision is not always available, teach your child the right thing to do in your absence. If he or she comes into contact with a gun, make sure he or she understands the need to go to a safe place, like a bedroom or the home of an approved neighbor.

Tell an Adult

Tell your child not to be afraid to tell you or another responsible adult if he or she finds a gun.

Toys vs. Real

Be certain small children understand the many dangerous differences between toy guns and the real thing. Toy guns can actually come in handy when teaching older children about gun safety and gun handling.

Pepper spray has long been used for self-defense and crowd control situations, and Mace is the company that many people consult for their self-defense needs. Mace pepper spray comes in a variety of strengths, blends, and canister designs, but all include the very effective ingredient known as oleoresin capsicum (OC).

Oleoresin capsicum is a derivative of a chili lover’s kitchen staple: hot cayenne peppers. OC is actually an inflammatory, and when it reaches the aggressor’s eyes, nose, or throat, the effects occur instantly. A few short blasts of Mace pepper spray and the capillaries in a person’s eyes will dilate, causing temporary blindness. Also, the tissues in the throat and lungs will become inflamed, bringing about respiratory distress and severe, but not life-threatening, shortness of breath. The effects of Mace pepper spray are short-lived, from 20-90 minutes, but that still gives a victim ample time to escape most dangerous situations.

Knowing where to buy pepper spray is as easy as turning on your computer or possibly going to a local grocery store. Though legal in all 50 states, your state may have regulations about formula strength, of which you need to aware. Mace pepper spray can be purchased directly from the Mace company website, as well as through a variety of personal safety stores and online hunting supply stores.  Even the Web giant Amazon carries Mace pepper spray for purchase. If you are wondering where to buy pepper spray locally, you can contact your neighborhood hardware store, sporting goods store, and even Walmart.

Although Mace pepper spray has a safety feature to deter accidental exposure, it is still wise to learn about proper usage before making a purchase. Here are some tips to learning how to effectively use mace pepper spray:

• When using the spray, thrust out your non-shooting hand and shout “Stop” to startle the attacker and draw his attention away from your other hand.
• Raise canister of Mace pepper spray to eye level and hold it several inches in front of your face, shooting directly at the eyes of your assailant.
• Do not close your eyes when shooting. If you are overly concerned about getting some in your face, you may want to consider a gel or foam variety instead of the standard spray.
• A one- or two-second burst of spray should be enough to stop a perpetrator. Back away, keeping your eyes on the attacker, then determine if you need to unleash another dose of the Mace pepper spray or if it is time for you to run to safety.

The idea of self-defense training often conjures up the notion of martial arts, such as karate or taekwondo. And while the martial arts do have a self-defense element to them, you will learn more usable self-defense tips in a class devoted only to the topic of self-defense. A few sessions with a qualified instructor and a person can walk away knowing how to avoid dangerous confrontations and handle life-threatening situations. Most self-defense training classes will begin with a series of tips to help reduce your likelihood of ever becoming a victim. Examples of some self-defense tips are as follows:

Self Defense Tip #1: Use common sense and trust your gut-instinct. If you are walking on a street, only to turn the corner into darker, more foreboding surroundings, then listen to your better judgment and simply turn around. Stay out of poorly-lit areas, and don’t use stairwells at night or secluded ATM machines. It sounds obvious, but who hasn’t been in a similar situation and thought, “Well, just this once”? It only takes once.

Self Defense Tip #2: Walk with your head up and eyes looking straight ahead. It’s a proven fact that attackers look for easy targets, namely people with their heads down or otherwise distracted. As part of your self-defense training, you should learn to walk tall and confidently while taking in your surroundings. With this technique, you will project a strong image to any would-be attackers.

Self Defense Tip #3: Don’t be afraid to shout. If you are in a situation that is making you feel increasingly uncomfortable, simply speak loudly and with authority. If that doesn’t make the assailant back-off, you can start shouting and screaming things like, “go away,” “call 911,” and even “fire.” By making a scene and putting up a fight, your attacker will likely leave you alone to look for an easier mark.

Of course, self-defense training goes well beyond these non-physical self-defense tips to include a more hands-on, or in this case, hands-off approach. Here are some basic self-defense moves you are likely to learn when undergoing self-defense training:

• Eye-Gouge: Using your fingers, quickly thrust them straight into the eyes of your attacker. This will cause a great deal of discomfort and blurred vision, giving you precious seconds to run, which is the ultimate goal of any self-defense move.
• Throat Punch: A speedy punch or elbow to the throat is a classic self-defense training move. It creates a sensation similar to choking and can be very disabling.
• Heel to the Foot: If you find yourself wrapped up by your attacker and unable to deliver a good punch, stomping the top of an assailant’s foot with your heel will likely cause him to at least soften his grasp, giving you the chance to maneuver around and run.
• Clapping the Ears: By cupping your hand and smacking it against the attacker’s ear, you can cause intense pain, possibly even breaking an eardrum. The attack will likely come to an abrupt halt at that point.
• Knee in the Groin: You might know about this oldie-but-goodie. A knee, fist, or any blunt object forcefully thrusted into the groin area can quickly bring a male attacker to his knees. Again, with self-defense training, your goal is to halt the assault long enough for you to run away, and this will certainly do the trick.