Full Notification

If you own a firearm, safe storage is one of your most important responsibilities. You must always secure your firearm and ammunition so they are not accessible to children or other unauthorized persons.

Even if you don’t have a gun in your home, it’s important you consider the possibility that your child may someday come into contact with a gun, or another child who has access to one. Just like any other dangerous situation, a simple conversation with your child may prevent an injury or worse.

If you own a firearm:
• Unload your firearms and store them properly.
• Lock and store ammunition separately.
• Hide keys, combinations, or other access information.

Basic safety rules:
• Before handling any firearm, understand how it operates.
• Always safely store and secure your firearm.
• Always lock and store ammunition in a separate location.
• Always keep your firearm pointed in a safe direction.
• Never place your finger inside the trigger guard unless you intend to fire.
• Never use alcohol or drugs before or while shooting.
• Always treat every firearm as if it were loaded.

Tips for parents:
• Talk with their children about guns.
• Ask other parents and neighbors where your children might visit if guns are present in their homes. If they are, talk to the other parents and neighbors to make sure the firearms are properly secured.
• Set some rules about guns for your children such as:
 Never touch a gun without your parents present.
 Do not look for guns in their homes or the homes of friends.
 Immediately leave any area where you see a gun. DON’T TOUCH THE GUN!
 Find an adult and tell them if you see or find a gun. AGAIN, DON’T TOUCH THE GUN!
 If they can’t find an adult, dial 911 and tell the police.
 Even if the gun looks like a toy, don’t touch it. Leave the area if other children are playing with a gun and tell an adult.
 If someone threatens you or talks about bringing a gun to school, speak up! Tell an adult like a parent or teacher.
 Remind your child that they shouldn’t worry about getting another child into trouble and that they may just be saving their life if they alert an adult.

Iowa law 724.22(7) states, “It shall be unlawful for any person to store or leave a loaded firearm which is not secured by a trigger lock mechanism, placed in a securely locked box or container, or placed in some other location which a reasonable person would believe to be secure from a minor under the age of fourteen years, if such person knows or has reason to believe that a minor under the age of fourteen years is likely to gain access to the firearm without the lawful permission of the minor’s parent, guardian, or person having charge of the minor, the minor lawfully gains access to the firearm without the consent of the minor’s parent, guardian, or person having charge of the minor, and the minor exhibits the firearm in a public place in an unlawful manner, or uses the firearm unlawfully to cause injury or death to a person. This subsection does not apply if the minor obtains the firearm as a result of an unlawful entry by any person. A violation of this subsection is punishable as a serious misdemeanor.”

THE MARSHALLTOWN POLICE DEPARTMENT PROVIDES CABLE GUN LOCKS FREE OF CHARGE.

For more information, please contact Sgt. Todd Tuttle via telephone at 641.754.5725 or via email at [email protected].