ALBANY, GA -
A Georgia man is recovering after shooting himself in the leg at a Savannah gun show.
Twenty-six-year old Charles Lake was leaving the show Sunday when the gun fired while he was re-loading it in the parking lot.
Loaded guns aren't allowed inside gun shows.
At Backwood Outdoors, they have a hard and fast rule when handling firearms, even though none of the guns they sell is loaded.
"Any gun that's anywhere, treat it like its loaded, that's number one," said Jackie Sizemore, Backwood Outdoors Owner.
So they check every gun handed over to a customer. Even then, they still treat it like it's loaded.
"When you're handling the gun you always want it pointed, at the ground, not all over the place," said Sizemore.
New owners should know what they're getting into and the differences between a revolver and a semi-automatic handgun.
"A revolver takes a conscious effort, a long trigger pull to make it fire. An automatic once its loaded, than it can go off," said Sizemore.
Which is why they also suggest a class to familiarize you with your weapon. Albany Police will offer a class in March.
"A lot of people we get in the classes they've had this gun in the family and they're just taking it out and you really need to be familiar with the gun that you have," said Captain Tracey Barnes, Albany Police.
They walk gun owners through the right paces.
"We teach you how to check your gun, how to handle it, proper stances, the safety aspects," said Barnes.
And instructors work one on one with you on the firing range. When you're not using the gun, officers say it should always be carried in a proper holster, one that secures the weapon and prevents it from being fired.
They say you should never put your finger on the trigger until it's absolutely determined that you have to use the gun, and at home secure the weapon with a gun lock or keep it in a safe out of the reach of those who shouldn't handle the weapon.
In addition to the Albany Police Department's firearms class, the Lee County Sheriff's Office will also offer a gun class in April.
Click HERE for a PDF document on gun safety.
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