The Four Rules of Safe Gun Handling
Yesterday I mentioned the four rules that, when followed, offer a pretty much zero percent chance of gun accidents. I thought I'd go through them for people that don't know what they are or why they work so well.
Rule 1 - Treat all guns as if they're loaded, even if they're not. Check all guns before handling.
Simply put, most gun accidents happen right before people say, "I thought it wasn't loaded!" If firearms are treated as if they're loaded all the time, people are much more careful.
Rule 2 - Do not point the gun at anything you wouldn't mind destroying--always keep the muzzle in a safe direction.
Basically, if you always point the gun in a direction where there are no people, animals, or expensive objects, it can't hurt anything but a wall or the floor, even if it somehow goes off.
Rule 3 - Keep your finger straight and off the trigger until you're ready to shoot.
Guns go off when you pull the trigger. If your finger isn't on it, that pretty much can't happen.
Rule 4 - Be absolutely sure of your target and what's behind it.
Be aware of what you're shooting at and what could be behind it. Bullets can penetrate certain things and continue flying. Only shoot if you know what you're shooting at will stop the bullet or there are empty fields or forest or a dirt pile behind it.
Simply put, if you follow these rules the gun won't go off accidentally. And even if it did, which it wouldn't, the bullet, if there was one chambered, would only hit a wall or the floor.
These four rules ensure safety when handling firearms if followed, not to mention there are an additional six sub-rules:
Be sure the gun is safe to operate, that there are no barrel obstructions, etc.
Use only the ammunition type specified on the gun with it.
Wear eye and ear protection while shooting.
Never use alcohol or perscription drugs before or during shooting.
Store guns so they are not accessible to unauthorized persons.
Make sure the gun is properly cleaned and maintained.
Shooting is just like every sport. There are precautions that must be taken to stay safe. And when they're followed, the user minimizes risk of injury. Firearm shooting can actually be much safer than most sports if the rules are followed.
So stay safe, have fun shooting, and share your sport.
~S
Rule 1 - Treat all guns as if they're loaded, even if they're not. Check all guns before handling.
Simply put, most gun accidents happen right before people say, "I thought it wasn't loaded!" If firearms are treated as if they're loaded all the time, people are much more careful.
Rule 2 - Do not point the gun at anything you wouldn't mind destroying--always keep the muzzle in a safe direction.
Basically, if you always point the gun in a direction where there are no people, animals, or expensive objects, it can't hurt anything but a wall or the floor, even if it somehow goes off.
Rule 3 - Keep your finger straight and off the trigger until you're ready to shoot.
Guns go off when you pull the trigger. If your finger isn't on it, that pretty much can't happen.
Rule 4 - Be absolutely sure of your target and what's behind it.
Be aware of what you're shooting at and what could be behind it. Bullets can penetrate certain things and continue flying. Only shoot if you know what you're shooting at will stop the bullet or there are empty fields or forest or a dirt pile behind it.
Simply put, if you follow these rules the gun won't go off accidentally. And even if it did, which it wouldn't, the bullet, if there was one chambered, would only hit a wall or the floor.
These four rules ensure safety when handling firearms if followed, not to mention there are an additional six sub-rules:
Be sure the gun is safe to operate, that there are no barrel obstructions, etc.
Use only the ammunition type specified on the gun with it.
Wear eye and ear protection while shooting.
Never use alcohol or perscription drugs before or during shooting.
Store guns so they are not accessible to unauthorized persons.
Make sure the gun is properly cleaned and maintained.
Shooting is just like every sport. There are precautions that must be taken to stay safe. And when they're followed, the user minimizes risk of injury. Firearm shooting can actually be much safer than most sports if the rules are followed.
So stay safe, have fun shooting, and share your sport.
~S
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