Guns are used safely millions upon millions of times every year, and each gun has the potential to kill or do serious bodily injury. Any individual that owns a firearm needs to learn Gun Safety Rules which are the basic foundation for the knowledge, skills and attitude necessary for owning a firearm. Gun Safety Rules protect ourselves and others around us, we need to follow Gun Safety Rules at all times when handling any type of firearm, including handguns like revolvers and pistols, rifles, shotguns, muzzle-loaders, and even airguns.
1 . Always Point a Gun in a Safe Direction.
The most important Gun Safety Rules should be self-explanatory. It is the easiest and most important rule of all gun safety. Another way to say it, aim the gun in the direction that if the gun were to discharge, no injury or property damage will occur.
2. Always Keep Your Gun Unloaded Until Your Ready To Use It.
Most people misinterpret Gun Safety Rules, and ask me “what am I going to do ask the bad guy to please hold on while I load my firearm?” This is not what we say when we say “until your ready to use.” When I get dressed in the morning and put my belt and holster on, and put that firearm in my holster, at that point its READY TO USE. If I have a safe at home and the gun is locked in the safe, IT IS READY TO USE. Now if i’m throwing a super bowl party where my friends are drinking and my gun is in my dresser drawer not locked, IT IS NOT READY TO USE. If i am on my way to the range in the car with my friends and I am loading my gun in the back seat, IT IS NOT READY TO USE. Most hunting accidents happen on the way to the actual hunt because the person loading the gun in the back seat accidentally shoots the person in the front. Bottom line is use common sense. Do not leave a loaded gun somewhere someone can stumble upon it and accidentally shoot themselves accidentally.
3 . Always Keep Your Finger off the Trigger.
Gun Safety Rules should be a habit that become second nature and has to be done EVERYTIME you handle a firearm. This is something that many people do not do and I see too often. Some idiot will have his or her finger on the trigger of a gun they are simply carrying, looking down the sights of, etc. Don’t do it! Your finger should be outside the trigger guard on the frame until your ready to shoot, then after shooting should be moved back outside the trigger guard and back on the frame.
4 . Always Assume That Any Gun, at Any Time, is Loaded.
Any time someone hands you a firearm, the fist thing you should do is check to see if the gun is loaded. Gun Safety Rules especially this one should be done habitually. Even if your best friend tells you its safe, check it anyway! Don’t believe it until you see it for yourself. Better safe than dead. Make it a habit to check no matter what. This should be a common practice every time even if YOU know the gun is loaded. It take a second and can keep you and a loved on alive.
5 . Know What You’re Shooting At And Also What Is Behind That.
6 . Be Familiar With Your Gun And Never Practice With Live Ammunition.
7 . Don’t Shoot at Hard Surfaces.
8 . Don’t Rely on a Safety Mechanism.
9 . Use the Right Ammo.
Make certain the ammunition you’re using is right for your gun. Don’t assume that you have the correct ammo just because it can be crammed into the gun. The caliber of the ammo needs needs to match the firearms caliber exactly to work with the gun’s design and strength factors. The proper cartridge designation is usually marked on the gun barrel and the head stamp of the round. If you have any doubt, consult the gun’s manufacturer or a qualified gunsmith.
10 . Pay Attention!
When your adrenaline is pumping and your having gun its easy to get distracted and forget about Gun Safety Rules especially with your friends and family. Make sure you follow all the Gun Safety Rules discussed here today and do not be afraid to call out someone not following the rules even someone you don’t know, especially at gun ranges. It could mean the difference between your life and death. Gun Safety Rules are designed to keep you and others safe, and honestly they most are common sense, but most humans lack this trait when doing something new. even expert gun instructors need reminders here and there. Some people might not want to hear it, but everyone that owns a firearm has a responsibility to know all the Gun Safety Rules and actually follow them.
Make sure you check out the article about Concealed Carry and practice these Gun Safety Rules while carrying as well.
Matt Adika