Gun owners say 'no excuse' for not keeping firearms safe from kids

Recent headlines about children who died from gunshots – including a 9-year-old Durham boy who was accidentally shot Monday by his 12-year-old brother – are heartbreaking for gun owners to hear.

“It’s disheartening, it’s saddening,” said Ben Moehring, who said he always keeps his guns under lock and key.

“I do have friends with children that frequent the home, so they’re always locked up and stored away for my peace of mind and for the peace of mind of the parents coming to my home,” he said.

At the Personal Defense & Handgun Safety Center in Raleigh, customers get a copy of the state law that explains how to store weapons. Failing to secure a firearm is a Class 1 misdemeanor punishable by up to 45 days in jail for first-time offenders.

The customers also get a cable lock that can be placed through the gun action.

“Children are very curious, and we all know that,” said Lynn Howard, a former veteran police officer who now sells firearms at the store.

He said there are a variety of ways to secure firearms, from locks to safes. Doing nothing is not an option.

“There absolutely is no excuse to allow a firearm to be accessed by a minor or a child,” he said.