Gun Safety in the Home

The tragic shooting death of the three-year old child from Philo is a reminder of the need for caution with firearms around the home.

Muskingum County Sheriff’s Office Captain Jeff LeCocq said it’s important to always treat a firearm like it’s loaded.

"You never point a gun at anyone. Guns are not toys," he said. "When a gun is kept in the home, we always encourage that gun be kept locked up in the home and ammunition be kept in a separate place."

According to LeCocq, talking with your child about firearms can help them understand the need for caution.

"It only takes a split second for tragedy to happen," he said. "We see this a lot with child deaths that occur. It doesn’t have to be with a firearm. It’s just you get distracted, there is some other event and everyone gets distracted and then tragedy happens."

LeCocq said as the weather gets warmer, people tend to mix their use of drug and alcohol with firearms, which can make for a deadly combination.