I carry a firearm in the line of duty and therefore my children often see me with a gun on my hip when I leave for work.  I explain to my 4 year old that it is one of the tools I use for my job and that he should never touch it or anything that looks like it under any circumstances. He knows and understands that while it is a tool that is supposed to be good, it can also hurt or even kill someone by accident.  Because of the time I have spent helping him understand these points, his natural curiosity has been satisfied.  In fact he is careful never to even accidentally bump into my gun when he hugs me goodbye for work.

The best and only practical way to save lives which might be lost accidentally through careless handling of a firearm is through proper education.  That cannot ever be stressed too often or too loudly.

I believe in the rights of honest citizens to bear arms and protect their loved ones.  It is also a sacred responsibility which needs to be tempered with good sense and morality.  The taking of a human life should and must be your absolute last resort when all other options including flight have been exhausted.  No one should have to see a loved one seriously hurt or even killed and have no way to defend them from an attacker who the sight of a firearm may deter.

In my experience, the average gun owner is a staunch supporter of law enforcement and the loudest advocate for stricter penalties for use of a firearm in committing a crime. --- Education is the Key