The Dangers of BB Guns

Yes, a BB gun, also known as a pellet gun, can kill a person. Actually about 4 people are killed each year by BB guns. I’m not sure why these guns are considered a “toy.” They have muzzle velocities higher than 350 feet per second. That means that the pellet leaves the gun at 350 feet per second. A common handgun has a muzzle velocity of 800 feet per second. That’s not much of a difference if you ask me.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission warns that children under 16 years of age should not have such a gun. However, if you do, please teach your child the proper safety tips. Here are just a few:

• Never, never, never point your BB gun at anyone, loaded or not.
• Keep your BB gun on safety until you are ready to fire.
• Keep your fingers off of the trigger until you are ready to fire.
• BB’s can ricochet, be careful of your shooting targets.
• Do not carry your BB gun into a public place as it may be mistaken for a real gun.
• Unload the gun when not in use.