National S.A.F.E. Day.

If you read yesterday's blog, you saw where I was having a dilemma over what to write about today. I do try to write about fun and interesting facts...leaving the deeper stuff to my teacher, The Dharma Frog. But every so often, a topic comes along that warrants a comment or two, from even me. That is the case today. This will also be, most likely, one of my shortest blogs ever. Not that I don't have a lot to say on the subject, I do, but it makes me sad and nobody likes feeling sad, right? But there is a sense of purpose here, a moral sense to do the right thing. So without further delay, I will try to make this as interesting and as helpful as I can.
Today is National S.A.F.E. Day. This is a day set aside to remind everyone to keep children safe from gun violence and to keep all weapons away from children. It seems like every day, there are horrible news stories about senseless deaths from guns. The worst ones, though, always involve young children who somehow manage to get hold of a gun and either shoot themselves or someone else by accident. "One in every three households in the United States has a gun stored somewhere inside.  The Brooklynn Mae Mohler Foundation is committed to ending senseless child deaths through education of responsible gun ownership and empowering parents to ask about guns where their children visit." That is a staggering and sober statistic.
Even if you don't have children, or your kids are grown up, it behooves each of us to know about gun safety. And for those of you who do have young children, it is vitally important to be informed. And while you may not own a gun, the places and people your children and grandchildren visit may have weapons. S.A.F.E. is an acronym that stands for Secure all firearms. Ask questions about unsecured firearms in the homes your children/grandchildren visit. Frequently talk to your children about the dangers of firearms. Educate and empower others to be safe.
There are several common-sense ways that you can protect children from coming into contact with guns.  
1. Firearms should be unloaded when not in use.
2. When removing or returning a firearm to storage it should always be pointed in a safe direction away from any person.
3. Maintain your firearm clean at all times.
4. Store your firearms in a locked cabinet, gun vault, safe, or storage case in a location inaccessible to children.
5. Always unload, clean, and properly store your firearm immediately after returning home from use.
6. Store ammunition in a separate, locked location from the firearm. Use a gun locking device that renders a firearm inoperable when stored or not in use.
7. Talk to your children and everyone in the home about firearms and explain the dangers of improper use.
8. Attend a gun safety course to fully understand how your firearm operates.
9. Always practice safe gun handling.
Okay, so maybe this wasn't my shortest blog ever. But this is important information and I felt an obligation to share this important message with you. I'll close by saying that each and every human needs to become an activist in helping to prevent senseless gun tragedies involving children. It shouldn't matter if you're pro or anti-gun ownership, the issue is gun safety and protecting the lives of innocent children.
That does it for me today, Please "hop" back by tomorrow for another life lesson from my wise old teacher, The Dharma Frog. Until we meet again, I wish you
                                                                     PEACE.
                           Be a kid's guardian angel and keep them safe from firearms!

https://nationaldaycalendar.com/national-safe-day-june-4/
https://www.sixmaritime.com/national-safe-day/