GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KREX) — According to Mesa County Public Health, Mesa County has one of the highest rates of gun deaths in Colorado and, per capita, even the United States. There were 95 recorded deaths by firearms in Mesa County from 2020 to 2022. A majority of those 95 were suicide.
If you're a gun owner or user - I talked to experts on how to properly handle and store weapons like pistols and rifles to keep you and others safe.
Firearms Instructor and Investigator for Grand Junction Police Department Mark Anderson tells Western Slope Now when you're not going out for target practice, always keep firearms locked away, not just laying around your house or tucked in a drawer.
If you go to a gun range, target shooting, hunting or have a concealed carry weapon, everyone should know and follow four safety basics…all weapons must be treated as if they're always loaded, keep your finger off the trigger and out of the trigger guard until the sights are on target and you're prepared to shoot, do not point the muzzle at anything you're not willing to destroy, and be certain of both your target and anything in the background.
Depending on the type of handgun, sometimes handguns don't have an actual safety, whereas a shotgun or rifle will. Glocks are famous for this feature, supplementing the safety with a two-stage trigger. Some revolvers also lack this feature.
Firearms Instructor and Owner of Grey Wolf Protective Industries Micah Galvan says flagging is common in both rifles and pistols. Flagging is when you are pointing the barrel, or your muzzle, at anything you're not wanting to shoot.
Micah warns if you are shooting close to another person, look out for the ejected brass as they fire. He knows this all too well from an ejected casing landing in his shirt collar.
Both Micah and Mark tell Western Slope Now if you abide by these rules and are aware of your surroundings, you'll stay safe in controlled environments like gun ranges. If you're concerned about someone experiencing a mental health crisis, it's imperative to make guns inaccessible with a gun luck.