SAN ANTONIO \u2013 Safely storing a gun when it\u2019s not being used is part of the responsibility that comes with owning a firearm.<\/p>\n
The San Antonio Police Department offers training on operating a gun safely for the public and requires the training for officers.<\/p>\n
SAPD Sgt. Joshua Bagley shared the most important parts of properly handling, cleaning and storing a firearm. <\/p>\n
While operating, Bagley emphasized keeping your finger off the trigger until you\u2019re ready to shoot, but safety comes before that.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe way that we normally handle the safe handling or stowing of a firearm is a gun safe,\u201d Bagley said. \u201cWhat I have is a simple gun lock. These can be purchased relatively cheap at just about any sporting goods store or gun store and it achieves essentially the same concept of gun safe, making it to where the firearm cannot be unintentionally loaded or intentionally loaded or used by an unauthorized person.\u201d<\/p>\n
SAPD public information officer Emily Garvin mentioned how important training is for everyone, even if people have used a firearm previously.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re able to learn the actual fundamentals of manipulating a weapon and knowing how to shoot correctly,\u201d Garvin said.<\/p>\n
The fundamentals of operating and storing a weapon are important to prevent accidental shootings.<\/p>\n
Between Jan. 1, 2026, and June 1, 2026, SAPD responded to 20 accidental shootings. In the same timeframe in 2025, SAPD responded to 61 accidental shootings. <\/p>\n
While the number has decreased in the last year, the department\u2019s goal is for no one to be impacted by an accidental shooting.<\/p>\n
Therefore, taking lessons on how to shoot and clean a weapon are critical.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou need to make sure to be cleaning your weapon properly because if you don\u2019t, you\u2019d hate for it to malfunction or anything of that manner,\u201d Garvin said.<\/p>\n
Bagley said it\u2019s important to clean your gun often to avoid rust and other issues that come from a lack of cleaning.<\/p>\n
\u201cAny firearm that is poorly maintained, it can rust, it can change the internals and the mechanics of it, so we often see with older firearms that are mishandled or used, they can have firing mechanisms that aren\u2019t as safe as a firearm that\u2019s been properly maintained,\u201d Bagley said.<\/p>\n