It hasn’t been long since we used this space to discuss the importance of gun safety, but a reminder came on Wednesday’s incident reports from the Selma Police Department.

An 18-year-old Selma man accidentally shot himself in the foot Monday at his home on the 1800 block of Old Montgomery Highway.  According to Lt. Curtis Muhannad with the Selma Police Department, the teenager was loading his weapon when it went off unexpectedly.

Owning a gun is a lot like driving a car, at least in a sense.  Nobody should be thrown behind the wheel without a couple of lessons first and when they are put in the driver’s seat, it should be in a low traffic area or a parking lot.  It takes practice to get it right or somebody can get hurt.

Shooting a gun is the same way. Nobody should purchase a gun without some practice or knowing how to use it. That’s why gun safety classes, like the one the Dallas County Sherriff’s Office is currently taking registration for May 28 are so vital.

The classes teach how to use the weapon safely and allows people to get comfortable with their guns on the shooting range. For the sheriff’s department’s class, registration is limited to 20 people and a gun permit is required. The cost is $25 per person.

We strongly encourage anyone in the community with a weapon that doesn’t feel completely comfortable with it, or anyone that would like more information, to sign up for the course or find one like it. It’s better to be safe, than sorry when it comes to guns.