Best ways to keep your family safe from guns

Even if you don’t own guns, the odds are good your children will be around them in someone else’s home. And you may not even realize it.

In the last six months, JFK Memorial Hospital in Indio treated 25 patients for gunshot wounds, including one considered accidental.

Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs saw 73 gunshot injuries in 2015, with two listed as accidental.

Firearms, real and fake fascinate little boys and girls, including Ryder and Parker Jaeger.

Although the boys play with fakes, there are real guns in the home, and their parents want them to know the difference.

“They’re only used for protection,” stresses Andie Jaeger.

Indio police Sergeant Bob Nava says Jaeger is doing the right thing.

“Tell them up front, they’re not toys,” he says. “They can hurt somebody, they will hurt somebody if they’re in the wrong hands.”

And accidents do happen.

The gun safety group Everytown estimates two million American children live in homes with unsecured guns.

Statistics vary, but roughly two-thirds of accidental shootings involving children happen in their home or car.

“I believe if you can buy a gun and ammunition you can afford a gun safe and a gun lock,” advocates Dori Smith.

Smith’s work with Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America earned her a trip to attend the State of the Union address as a guest of Congressman Raul Ruiz.

“Let’s protect those vulnerable kids,” says Smith, herself a mother and grandmother.

She and two million other moms are working on strengthening gun control laws through legislation, but she says you have to be “SMART” to stay safe.

Secure your guns

“Separate the ammunition from the guns, put the guns in gun safes so little hands can’t get a hold of them,” adds Smith.

Model responsible behavior

Ask about unsecured guns in other homes.

“Ask other parents before your children go to their homes for a play date, or party, or babysitting,” she offers.

Recognize the risks of teen suicide.

And Tell your peers to be SMART.

“This is probably the most popular seller today,” says Mark Wasserkrug, as he shows off a firearm at Guns of Distinction in Palm Desert.

Many new guns in California now come with gun locks.

“There’s absolutely no excuse for someone not to use this locking device,” Wasserkrug explains.

Wasserkrug says he can’t release previously owned guns if a buyer won’t sign an affidavit that says the gun will be locked or stored in a safe.

The risk factor is huge for leaving it out, leaving it loaded, and putting it in a spot where it’s going to be found.”

Wasserkrug says when investing in a safe:

AVOID

2-key safes (They’re too easy to take)

INSTEAD

Purchase a safe weighing over 400 lbs

AVOID

Using common lock codes (like 1-2-3)

INSTEAD

Buy a dial safe, which is trickier for little fingers to manipulate, and use four or more numbers in your code

Better safes:

-are UL Listed (passed federal and state safety standards, and has multiple bolts)

-have interior hinges

-can be secured to the floor using concrete lugs

Sgt. Nava checks out the built-in safe at the Jaeger’s home, and says, “That is awesome, in that closet. And just keeping your weapons locked and secure. And none of the weapons, are they loaded?”

He also shows off gun locks, which can be obtained for free from Indio PD.

“There are times when (guns) are stored in nightstands, or on top of dressers, and they are loaded and they don’t have any kind of security on them, and that is when accidents happen,” Nava adds.

Then he turns to Jaeger’s children.

“If you see a weapon, go to an adult, don’t ever pick it up.”

Moms Demand Action will take part at the Palm Desert Safety Fair on March 19.