LINCOLNTON, N.C. — December is a busy season for gun store owners in North Carolina, because firearms are a popular gift, and an N.C. gun shop owner talked to Spectrum News about the importance of safety and correct storage.
What You Need To Know
A gun store owner says firearms are a popular Christmas gift in the South
Anthony Guerrero owns The Save Room in Lincolnton and says since August, he has sold more than 150 guns
Guerrero stresses the importance of gun safety, and his store carries several different types of gun locks
Anthony Guerrero opened The Save Room gun store and pawn shop in Lincolnton earlier this year after getting his federal firearms license.
"I have always been fascinated with firearms, since I was a young boy, watching 'Die Hard' and all those video games," Guerrero said.
Since August, Guerrero has sold 152 guns. Along with guns, he also carries different types of gun locks.
"I wish people would take gun safety as seriously as they have a passion for firearms," Guerrero said.
According to North Carolina law, a person can be held liable if the firearm is left loaded and unattended where a child can access it and cause harm to himself or others.
On Dec. 13, a 4-year-old boy was killed after his sibling fired a loaded handgun left on a coffee table. Gaston County police said they charged all three adults with felony involuntary manslaughter, felony child abuse and a misdemeanor charge of storing a firearm in a manner accessible to a minor.
Guerrero says there is no excuse for a tragedy like that to occur.
"It's so important to lock up these guns. I have a kid, and he is always messing around like children typically do. You cannot leave guns laying around," Guerrero said.
A recent Kaiser Family Foundation report found guns are the number one cause of deaths among American children and teens.
"We find that the United States is alone among peer nations in the number of child firearm deaths. In no other similarly large or wealthy country are firearm deaths in the top 4 causes of mortality let alone the number 1 cause of death among children," Kaiser Family Foundation stated on their website.
North Carolina's Department of Public Safety's website offers a list of gun safety storage rules:
- "Keep all guns and ammunition out of the reach of children, untrained adults, and those who would use them improperly
- Always keep your guns locked in a gun safe that cannot be easily broken into or taken away. If one is not available, use a cable lock or trigger lock (one that goes behind the trigger is preferred) and store the guns out of the reach of those who should not have access to them
- Keep the keys to gun safes and gun locks hidden and out of the reach of those who should not have access to them
- Store your guns unloaded and with the safety on
- Keep the guns dry, cleaned and oiled while in storage
- Store guns and ammunition in a dry cool place and away from heat and fire"
Guerrero also stressed the importance of background checks, and said he takes them very seriously. When someone comes into the store to buy a gun as a gift, he suggests instead of a gift card, have the gifted person come into the store so he can fill out the background check.
"That way I can tell the firearm is going to a responsible person," Guerrero said.