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Be Careful with ALL Types of Guns Even though most states don’t allow teenagers to own firearms, there are other kinds of guns you may have. BB guns, paintball guns, nail guns, and even staple guns can all be dangerous when not used properly. If you own one in your home, or have friends who do, make sure that you are properly trained in how to use all of these devices.
Talk to Your Parents This is especially important if one of your parents owns a gun. Talk to them about why the have it, when they use it and how they are making sure it is safe. Also talk to them about your own curiosity and the impressions you have of guns. It’s important for parents and teens to be on the same page about gun awareness.
Even if your parents don’t own a gun, talk to them about how they feel about guns. Express your own curiosity and what you know or don’t know. They may have some interesting answers for you and will certainly appreciate knowing how you feel. Let Someone Know About Rumors If you hear a rumor that so-and-so has a gun, or so-and-so is going to bring a gun to school don’t hesitate to let someone know. A lot of times rumors like that are hype, used to scare people if nothing else- but if there is a chance that someone has a gun and will bring it to school, people have to know.
Do Unto Others… Many of the people in question for school shootings in recent years (and other open- shootings at workplaces involving adults) are those who’ve felt isolated, intimidated or even threatened by their peers. If someone had only noticed these people and taken their complaints seriously, many deaths may have been prevented. It is certainly not your responsibility to take care of everyone, but keep in mind what effects your actions have on others. Listen to your friends, if you think they need help go with them to find it. Treat all your peers with respect, even if you might not like them. To Dispose of an Unwanted Gun This isn’t something you should be doing on your own, but you can give the information to an adult who you call to your aid.
Call your local police station (at their regular line, NOT 911 Emergency) and they should be able to help you dispose of it. Generally they run a check to make sure it has not been used in any criminal activities first. Often communities will host “buy-back” gun events where you can exchange your gun for a small compensation (i.e. gift certificates) and they will render it unusable.
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