Does This Finding Make New Jersey Gun Owners Irresponsible?
A recent study reveals some surprising habits of gun owners in New Jersey and the findings sparked a question that every single person should make a habit of asking.
We have more guns in the United States than we do people. To some, that's a scary thought, and for others it makes them feel more secure. No matter where you fall on the issue, you should know that when you visit a friend, neighbor, or even a family member's house (especially with children) there is an important question that you should be asking, "do you have a gun, and if you do, is it locked up?" You may be surprised at the answer you get.
A recent study reveals that more than half of New Jersey gun owners surveyed are not locking their firearms up at all.
The survey was conducted at Rutgers University where they polled over two thousand gun owners to ask them how they handle owning their firearms and what their safety measures were. Locking up your gun is of course the number one way to ensure an unwanted user does not get their hands on the weapon. However, there is not as much of that going on as you may think.
The survey inquired about storage and the kinds of locking devices used but what it also revealed is that in New Jersey many of us are not locking up our guns at all. In fact, they found that almost 60% of the people surveyed store at least one of their guns in an unlocked location so they are ready in case of an emergency. There was also another 18% of people that don’t bother hiding their loaded weapons at all.
The reason for not locking them away is having quick access which does mean you are more prepared for a home invasion, but it means you are leaving yourself open to little hands finding the firearm too. You have the right to bear arms, but we have the right to know if they are locked away before kids come over to play. In light of this study, remember to ask your host before you go so you are in the know.