Be it going on a walk in the woods during hunting season, letting kids sleepover at a home that may have a firearm, or watching the news, everyone is going to encounter guns in one way or another.

In the wake of many gun-related tragedies across the United States, more people are getting educated about firearms.

Rochester resident and Wareham native Steven Morrell is passionate about getting the right information into the hands of the public.

Morrell, a former special operations Marine, has 10 years of experience with firearms instruction and currently works as both a federal law enforcement trainer and a firearms safety instructor with Sig Sauer Academy in New Hampshire.

Certified to teach with both Sig Sauer and the National Rifle Association, Morrell says he gives people a foundation for the proper use and handling of firearms.

“If people aren’t comfortable and haven’t been educated in firearms, I think there’s a tendency to be afraid,” said Morrell. “I enjoy it when I see someone walk through the door in the morning who is very apprehensive, maybe didn’t even want to be there, and leave there at the end of the day and have a different outlook on firearms.”

Morrell said his students range from those new to firearms to spouses wanting a basic understanding of the gun in their home.

“I’ve literally had grandmothers take my class recently who have handled and shot firearms for the first time in their life,” he said.

Morrell said he has an almost 50-50 split between males and females compared to mostly men a few years ago.

“We’re starting to see a more diverse group of folks that we maybe haven’t seen in the past, could be for any number of reasons,” he said. “Everybody has their own reasons for it. The unfortunate events that we’ve seen, it’s got a lot of people thinking about different things.”

For all of them, he teaches the “four absolutes” of gun safety. First, he said every firearm should be treated as if it were loaded, “even after you inspect it and know it’s free from ammunition.”

Second, Morrell said, “Never allow your finger on the trigger until your sights are lined, and you’ve made that conscious decision to take that shot.”

The third rule is to never allow the muzzle of the gun to cross over anything that the holder isn’t willing to destroy. Lastly, Morrell said gun owners must identify their target and be aware of how far a bullet can travel.

“Bullets can travel through the targets and great distances, sometimes upwards of a mile,” he said.

Beyond safety in usage, Morrell stresses common sense in storing guns so they stay out of the wrong hands. Firearms and ammunition must be stored separately.

He also said kids, when old enough, should have some education concerning guns, even for families without them in their home.

Morrell said several programs exist to give kids an introduction to firearms and how to be safe if they encounter them. Children should “stop, don’t touch, leave the area and tell an adult,” he said.

“If you develop good habits, you can eliminate the potential for any mishaps,” Morrell said.

Beyond safety courses, which he said are offered by many organizations, Morrell recommends seeking professional instruction in the use of firearms.

For more information on Sig Sauer Academy click here.