[manbridge 74]

"Unloaded" guns kill many. I'd suggest starting kids off with a clear demonstration of the danger. Get a large cantaloupe and show them how life changing it would be to get hit with a bullet.

Follow typical gun safety rules but add a few of your own like leaving a gun out in the open(unloaded) and, from another room, let them come and tell you that it is there and an adult needs to know. I'd also suggest keeping all ammo separate from guns. My kids can spot a fake gun from a real one in seconds. I had to do this because of a similar situation as the OP. My dad has a safe but they can be left open.

Make sure you use a lot of repetition to make it stick. The gun show accidents were likely caused by typical attitude that comes with getting a new appliance. As in people don't think they need to read any rules on safety or how something operates. That it should all be intuitive. This might cause one to burn their toast with a new toaster but could get you killed with a gun.

Also: One never knows where a kid might have to make a decision to tell an adult at someone else's house or even if they found one off the street playing. This is why you need to know what they'll do before they get in that type of situation.