The importance of gun safety in the home should never be underestimated, especially as it relates to children and youth in the home. Foster parents are required to take extra precaution in seeing that firearms are kept out of the reach of curious children. 

DFCS requires that firearms in the home are unloaded and kept secured under lock and key or secured with one of the commercial locking devices. Ammunition is always removed from the firearm and kept locked in a separate location.

Children, in general, are not allowed to handle any firearm kept in the foster home; this includes hunting rifles also. However, youth 16 years old and above who have successfully completed a hunters education course and have obtained the state required hunter’s safety certificate and license may engage in hunting activities with the foster parent or other approved adult. 

Examples of the type locking devices that may be employed to protect children from guns include the following:

• Trigger Lock – blocks access to the trigger of the gun and prevents the gun from firing. Trigger locks cannot be used on loaded guns. The lock must be removed with a key and then the gun may be loaded, if necessary. 
• Lock Box – Locks the gun away and limits accessibility. The box must be unlocked for use. The key should not be accessible to children. 
• Plug/Rod Lock – blocks firing and cannot be used on a loaded gun. Lock must be remove to load gun. 
• Cable Lock – Prevents ammunition loading and firing. 
• Other locks – may lock safely and prevent firing of gun. Can be used on a loaded or unloaded gun and provides the homeowner with instant accessibility to the gun, if needed for safety. (A firearm dealer will be able to identify such a lock.)

Page 62