Contents
The 5 Rules of Gun Safety
When it comes to firearm safety, there are a few things that you should always remember. These rules of gun safety are based on common sense and were put into place to ensure the safest possible shooting experience for all shooters.
Firearms and ammunition should be stored in a safe place away from children and unauthorized persons. This is a full-time responsibility.
1. Always Keep Your Finger Off the Trigger
One of the most essential safe gun handling habits responsible shooters practice is to always keep their finger off the trigger until the gun box for truck is ready to shoot. This is especially important if you are in a self-defence situation and someone may move before you.
If your finger is in the trigger guard, it is extremely easy to accidentally fire a round before you are ready to do so.
Trigger discipline is a learned skill and takes practice and repetition to develop good muscle memory and confidence.
Another way to practice proper trigger discipline is to use a grip trainer, such as IronMind Captain Crush. With this grip trainer, you will crush down on the grip and keep your finger isolated from the rest of your hand while maintaining a firm pistol grip.
2. Keep Your Muzzle Pointed in a Safe Direction
When you are aiming a gun, you want to make sure that the muzzle is pointed in a safe direction. This is a basic rule of gun safety and can eliminate many of the accidents that occur when handling a firearm.
The reason for this is simple: a bullet can ricochet off just about anything. It can splatter a vehicle, or damage a wall in a home.
This is especially important when you are aiming a gun at someone. It is also critical when loading or unloading a weapon.
3. Know Your Target and Its Surroundings
One of the most important aspects of gun safety is being aware of your surroundings. This includes the target you’re shooting at and anything in the path of your shot.
It also consists of knowing your firing line so you can step behind it during cease-fires and reloads. Having this knowledge is crucial for both your own safety and the safety of others.
The most obvious rule of thumb for this is to keep your finger off the trigger until you’re ready to fire. This will help prevent accidentally discharging a loaded firearm, and it will ensure that the muzzle of your gun points in a safe direction. It might be the most basic of all rules of gun safety, but it is one of the most important!
4. Keep Your Eyes and Ears Protected
The loud noise made by a fired gun can be damaging to your hearing. Over time, exposure to repeated gunfire can result in tinnitus, or constant ringing in the ears.
In addition, a fired gun can also release microscopic debris, burning gases and hot powder. These can cause eye injury if you don’t wear adequate eye protection when you shoot.
Fortunately, there are many choices in ear and eye protection for the shooting range. These can include foam ear plugs, earmuffs or ear pro devices.
5. Keep Your Gun Safe
It’s important to keep your gun safe when shooting. This can help prevent injury or death from an accidental shootout.
It can also protect you and others if you should have to defend yourself. If you’re not sure how to secure your gun, there are several ways to go about it.
One of the most effective ways to keep your gun safe is to store it in a locked cabinet, safe or gun vault when not in use. This will make it difficult for children to gain access to and use the weapon.