Gun and Ammunition Safety - My Take
There's no question that a loaded gun could be dangerous. Any responsible person knows this and makes every effort to handle their gun safely. This is just being smart.
But perhaps not everyone understands the basic techniques and "best practices" for handling guns and ammo. Below are a few suggestions based on my many years as a gun enthusiast and somebody who takes gun safety seriously.
Safety IS REALLY A Mindset
Gun safety efforts seek to create a certain attitude and appropriate habits by following some simple rules. The mindset should be... firearms are inherently dangerous and must always be handled carefully. Gun handlers are taught to take care of firearms with respect because of their destructive capabilities, and strongly discouraged from playing or toying with firearms, a common cause of accidents.
https://cvgunandammo.com/ of gun safety follow out of this mindset.
Originally Colonel Jeff Cooper developed four rules are those mostly taught during gun safety training. John Dean "Jeff" Cooper (May 10, 1920 - September 25, 2006) was named the father of what is often called "the present day Technique" of handgun shooting, and was considered by many to be one of the 20th century's foremost international experts on the utilization and history of small arms. Listed below are his four rules:
Treat all guns as if they are loaded.
Never let the muzzle cover anything you are not ready to destroy.
Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on the target.
Be sure of one's target and what is beyond it.
The NRA provides a similar set of rules:
Continue to keep the gun pointed in a safe direction.
Continue to keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot.
Continue to keep the gun unloaded until ready to use.
Treat Guns AS THOUGH They Are Loaded
Many firearm accidents result from the handler mistakenly believing a firearm is emptied, safetied, or otherwise disabled when plus its prepared to be discharged.
In case a gun handler always treats firearms as with the capacity of being discharged at any time, the handler is more likely to take precautions to prevent an unintentional discharge also to avoid damage or injury if one occurs. In other words it becomes a habit and an individual mindset.
Point the Muzzle FROM Any Target
This rule is intended to minimize the damage due to an unintended discharge. The first rule teaches a firearm should be assumed to be ready to fire. This rule goes beyond that and says, "Because the firearm might fire, assume that it'll and make certain no harm occurs when it can."
Due to this rule is that almost any playing or "toying" with firearms is prohibited. Playfully pointing firearms at people or other non-targets violates this rule. To discourage this kind of behavior, the rule is sometimes alternately stated, "Never point a firearm at anything unless you intend to shoot it."
Keep Fingers off the Trigger
This rule is supposed to avoid an unintended discharge. If your finger is not on the trigger usually the gun can't be shot. In case a finger is on the trigger a handler's finger may involuntary move for several reasons.
The handler is startled
There's a lack of full attention on body movements
There might be physiological reasons beyond conscious control for instance a spasm
The handler stumbles or falls
The finger being pushed by something (as when attempting to holster a handgun with one's finger on the trigger)
Handlers are therefore taught to minimize the harmful ramifications of this type of motion by keeping their finger off the trigger until the muzzle is pointing at the mark and the handler wishes to discharge the firearm.
Be Sure of one's Target and WHAT'S Beyond It
Gun handlers are taught that they must positively identify and verify their target. Additionally, they learn that even though firing at a valid target, unintended targets may still be hit, for three reasons:
- The bullet may skip the intended target and hit a non-target around or beyond the mark.
- A non-target may pass in front of the target and be hit with a bullet aimed at the target.
- The bullet may pass through the intended target and hit a non-target beyond it, so called "over penetration".
Therefore, this rule requires a handler to be certain of both target itself and anything along the avenue of travel to and beyond the target.
Gun Storage
Although this is not portion of the commonly expressed rules of gun handling, Let me add that gun storage Should be included in any safety mindset. The story of children finding a loaded gun and shooting themselves or a playmate is all too common.
Be sure you store guns in a locked and safe place and always make sure it isn't loaded. Also be sure any ammunition is locked away. Give a clean, dry and various spot to store ammo. Guns are useless without ammo, so be sure to store the two in different locations.
The sad stories of children being injured, although rare, may be the biggest element in the public's unfavorable viewpoint readily available guns.
Be Safe For Everyone's Benefit
These four good sense rules will be the excepted basic mindset and guidelines for several gun owners. If we want the sport we want to be accepted and grow, all gun lovers must take these practices to heart. Following these practices and developing this mindset not only may save a life but increase the acceptance of guns.