The Echols County Sheriff’s Office is pleased to participate in Project ChildSafe, this is a nationwide program to help ensure safe and responsible firearms ownership and storage, developed by the National Shooting Sports Foundation and supported by a U.S. Department of Justice grant.

General Firearms Safety Tips

• Keep all firearms locked and unloaded in a safe place, away from children and other unauthorized persons.
• Store ammunition under lock and key, separately from firearms.
• Read and understand the owner’s manual that came with your firearm.
• Follow safe gun handling practices: keep muzzle pointed in a safe direction; keep fingers off the trigger, and keep the firearm unloaded when not in use.

A Message For Your Children

Young people are naturally curious about firearms and, as a result, may be tempted to “play” with a firearm they find. Make sure young people in your home are aware of and understand the safety guidelines described below.

• Don’t go looking for guns in your house or a friend’s house. Don’t let other kids look for guns in your home.
• If you find a gun in your house – or anywhere else –STOP! Leave it alone. Don’t touch it. Don’t let anyone else touch it. Leave the area and be sure to tell an adult at once.
• Even if a gun looks like a toy, don’t touch it. Some real guns may look like toy guns, so don’t take a chance. Leave the area and immediately tell an adult.

REMEMBER…IF YOU FIND A GUN, DON’T PICK IT UP!  JUST LEAVE IT ALONE, AND TELL AN ADULT RIGHT AWAY!