Always know where you are shooting and what lies beyond your target. It’s one of the most basic, and most important rules of gun safety, but it’s not always heeded.

This past Sunday, a 5-year-old child was wounded while inside her grandparents’ home in the Blounts Creek area. Her grandmother says the shots came into the home and were likely fired from the woods nearby.

While that shooting is still under investigation by the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office, there is little doubt that it could have been avoided if whoever fired the gun had followed that one simple rule.

Whether for target practice or to put food on the table, people in Beaufort County use guns year round, and most gun owners probably do so in a safe manner. But those aren’t the ones you hear about. It’s the ones who make bad decisions or end up shooting another person that usually come to the public’s attention in the biggest way.

Gun ownership is every American’s constitutional right, as guaranteed under the Second Amendment. But with that right also comes serious responsibility. That responsibility is to exercise common sense and good judgment when handling a firearm.

For anyone that might need a refresher, the North Carolina Department of Public Safety offers the following rules for safe gun use.

• Always treat the gun as loaded.
• Always keep the gun pointed in a safe direction.
• Always keep your finger straight and off the trigger until you are ready to shoot.
• Always keep the gun unloaded until you are ready to use it.
• Never point the gun at anything you don’t intend to destroy.
• Be sure of your target and what is beyond it.
• Learn the mechanical and handling characteristics of the gun you are using.
• Always use proper ammunition.
• Be sure the barrel is clear of obstructions before loading and shooting.
• If your gun fails to fire when the trigger is pulled, hold your shooting position for several seconds; then with the muzzle pointed in a safe direction, carefully unload the gun.
• Don’t rely on the gun’s safety to keep it from firing.
• Be aware of your surroundings when handling guns so you don’t trip or lose your balance and accidentally point and/or fire the gun at anyone or anything.

If you already own a gun, you should already know those rules. If you can’t follow those rules, then you need to leave your guns at home.