HAMPTON ROADS, Va. – Gun safety and safe storage options come to the forefront especially when tragedy strikes.
On Tuesday in Hampton, police say a 2-year-old girl died after she "accidentally shot herself."
For those wishing to exercise the right to bear arms, there are some high-tech options as well as simpler, less costly tools to keep those out of reach of minors.
Gun safes and trigger locks are becoming more common.
“Dial locks, key locks. You know, overall, pretty inexpensive. Most of them are $25-$35 dollars," said Steve Dowdy, Owner of Bob's Gun Shop in Norfolk, as he talked about pistol safes.
Dowdy says all guns they sell come with some type of lock and that a trigger lock can cost under $10.
He heard about the most recent tragedy where a toddler in Hampton, according to police, got a hold of a gun and accidentally shot herself.
“It actually infuriates me, because it’s just – it’s just so easy to avoid. Like I said, somebody just didn’t think the whole situation through. You know, they don’t realize maybe a younger kid can do that,” Dowdy stated.
For gun owners concerned with quick access, there are some high-tech options.
"As you get into some of the more expensive safes, they’re as quick to open. You can wear an RFID bracelet and you just reach over in the middle of the night and it pops open, and it’s ready to go," said Dowdy. "There are biometrics where fingerprints will open the safe or you know, a quick push-button combination."
Project ChildSafe, which according to their website, is the largest, most comprehensive firearms safety education program in the U.S., recommends that firearms should be unloaded when not actually in use. They also say guns should be stored in a locked cabinet, safe, gun vault, or storage case when not in use, ensuring they are in a location inaccessible by children and cannot be handled by anyone without the owner’s permission.
Gun owners can take one or two minutes and read over “Ten Tips for Firearm Safety in Your Home.”
Some community organizations and law enforcement agencies will distribute free gun locks. To look for one in your city, click here. We know the Hampton Sheriff's Office is a local distributor of gun locks. In fact, they've given out more than 250 so far this year. If anyone would like to request a free gun lock, they can contact Lieutenant B. Moore at 757-728-2010.
