Overview
New York State laws are aimed at reducing gun violence and making New York a safer place to live. It requires that guns remain safely secured and inaccessible to those not permitted to possess them. Following a few common sense rules and educating our children will make a safer New York.
Gun Safety Rules
Firearms Handling & Storage
- Treat every firearm as if it were loaded.
- Always keep the muzzle of the firearm pointed in a safe direction.
- Always keep your finger off the trigger and outside the trigger guard unless you intend to fire the weapon.
- Wear appropriate ear and eye protection when discharging the firearm.
- If there are children in the home, use child safety locks or other commercially available locking mechanisms on your firearms and/or keep your firearms locked in a secure location accessible to adults only. Keep your ammunition locked in a secure location away from the firearms.
- Familiarize yourself with and obey all federal, state, and local laws regarding the purchase, possession, carrying, use, storage, and disposition/sale of firearms
Clearing / Unloading A Firearm
- Always keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction AND always keep your finger off the trigger and outside the trigger guard while cleaning or unloading a firearm.
- Remove the magazine or other source of ammunition.
- Open the breech and visually as well as physically inspect the chamber to ensure the firearm is completely unloaded. Repeat this step twice to be sure the firearm is completely unloaded.
Safe Gun Storage
Lock It Up
- If you own a gun, keep it locked up, unloaded, and out of reach of children.
- Store your ammunition separately and keep your ammunition locked up, too.
- Invest in a trigger lock for your gun.
Gun Lock Safety Tips
- Keep cable and lock outside of trigger guard at all times.
- Always push cable into padlock and turn key until securely locked. After removing key, tug on cable to ensure connection is secure.
- Store key to the gun lock and the firearm separately. Be sure to store key in a location inaccessible to unauthorized persons, particularly children.
- Do not work the firearm’s action with the lock in place. This may damage the lock and/or the firearm.
- If the lock’s protective coating becomes damaged or separated from the steel cable or the lock face, replace the lock.
Autoloading Pistols
With the slide locked back and magazine removed, insert the cable through the ejection port and out the magazine well.
To lock: Push loose end of cable into padlock until it clicks into locked position. Remove Key. Check that cable is secure.
Revolvers
With the cylinder open, insert the cable through the barrel, or through an empty cylinder chamber.
To lock: Push loose end of cable into padlock until it clicks into locked position. Remove Key. Check that cable is secure.
Bolt Action Rifles
Open the action (lock it if your firearm has a bolt hold-open device) and remove the magazine. Insert the cable through the ejection port and out the magazine well.
OR Remove the bolt from the rifle. Insert the cable through the ejection port and out through the end of the receiver assembly.
To lock: Push loose end of cable into padlock until it clicks into locked position. Remove Key. Check that cable is secure.
Autoloading and Pump–action Shotguns
With the bolt in the locked open position, insert the cable through the ejection port and out the loading port.
To lock: Push loose end of cable into padlock until it clicks into locked position. Remove Key. Check that cable is secure.
Lever Action Rifles
With the magazine empty, close the action and wrap the cable around the stock and lever in a manner such that the lever cannot be cycled.
To lock: Push loose end of cable into padlock until it clicks into locked position. Remove Key. Check that cable is secure.
Keeping Children Safe from Guns
The Facts
There are about 300 million firearms in the U.S., so even if you do not own a gun, your children may encounter one. For example, the parents of your children's friends may keep guns in their homes. You have an important responsibility to protect your children from guns.
- Children often know exactly where their parents' guns are kept, and that puts children at risk.
- Most children can't reliably distinguish between real and toy guns, or fully understand the consequences of their actions.
- Some gun owners with children in the home leave their guns loaded and unsecured.
- Unintentional shooting deaths of children often occur in the home.
What Can You Do?
Parents should follow these simple steps to reduce the number of children harmed by guns:
- Educate your children about the dangers of guns.
- Ensure that any guns you own are stored safely and securely, and are hidden from your children.
- Tell your children to stay away from guns if they encounter one.
- Speak with the parents of your children's friends to determine whether they have a gun in their home. If they do, urge them to store it safely and out of a child's reach.
Additionally, if your children happen to encounter a gun, teach them three easy steps:
- Don't touch the gun.
- Move away from the gun.
- Alert an adult.
Follow these steps, and keep your children safe!