Gun Safety
At the very heart of what we do as firearms sportsman, enthusiasts and CCW holders is gun safety. 99.99% of the time, what we do with a firearm involves the utmost in safety. Taking gun safety for granted, not paying attention to what your doing when handling a firearm, or becoming complacent with the safety rules will almost certainly lead to disaster!
I know of too many terrible and horrific stories involving children or loved ones killed or injured due to the negligence of someone inappropriately handing a firearm.
The #1 rule of Gun Safety is to “Keep the Gun Pointed in a Safe Direction”
I teach my students above everything else, that keeping the firearm pointed in a safe direction is number one and I show them just how to do that. Outside, inside, when you have to use it in self-defense.
Just about everyone who already owns a gun knows the “Four Universal Rules of Gun Safety”. The very first rule is, “All guns are always loaded” That’s a reasonable assumption anytime you see a gun, but once you pick it up, everything changes! It is now your responsibility to make sure the gun doesn’t ‘go off’ and hurt other people. It must be done with command and control and kept pointed in a safe direction at all times.
Firearms handling can be divided into two categories, administrative or tactical. Tactical handling is when you’re using the firearm to save your life or that of a loved one. Administrative handling is everything else…getting familiar with it, seeing how it works, going through the manual, cleaning it, learning about it, etc.
The Four Universal Rules of Gun Safety
1. All guns are always loaded until otherwise verified.
2. Keep the gun pointed in a safe direction at all times.
3. Keep your finger OFF of and AWAY FROM the trigger until ready to shoot.
4. Know your target and what is behind it.
The NRA has three primary gun safety rules and another nine (9) to go along with that, including using eye and ear protection and not using anything that might impair you. For my students, I second that word of advice and recommend everyone be in good shape and feeling 100% before shooting at the range.
