FIREARM SAFETY

The most powerful tool in your toolbox is education.  It is the constant drive to learn more than you already know.  It is the spirit of sharing this information to learn what you don't know and to help your neighbors better themselves.

And in the world of firearms, an education means the difference between life and death.  Self-inflicted injury and injury inflicted on others.

The above injury was self-sustained by someone who either did not know or forgot the rules.  Rules that are taught and supposedly learned.

So, on that note, let's review the rules.  Since we are focused on the world of firearms, we should start discussing the rules:

1. Treat All Guns As Loaded

What does that mean?  It means, respect the gun.  By itself if can do nothing, but in the hands of the ignorant, the unsafe, and the reckless it can cause a world of hurt.  Act and treat the firearm as if there is a bullet in the chamber and ready to fire.  This, inherently, leads us to the next rule.

2. Don't Point The Gun At Anything You Are Not Willing To Destroy

Also, sometimes known as the laser-beam concept.  Treat the firearm as if there is a laser-beam extending from the end of the barrel (muzzle) and anything it contacts is destroyed.

This rule is also sometimes referred to as keep the gun pointed in a safe direction.  Safe, however, can be relative.  Particularly if you are deploying your weapon in a self-defense situation.

The key to this rule is to remember that once the bullet exits the firearm there is no taking it back.  And the last thing it was pointed at will be destroyed.

And, if you think it's OK because the gun is unloaded: REFER TO RULE #1.

3. Keep Your Finger Off The Trigger Until You Are On Target And Have Made The Decision to Shoot

This is a longer rule because it is essentially a two-part rule.  Keep your finger off the trigger.  Away from the trigger.  Find a place on the frame or slide outside the trigger guard and consciously plant your finger there.  Keep it there at all times until you have presented the firearm towards your target and then ONLY when you have made the CONSCIOUS DECISION to shoot should your finger then move to the trigger. 

If you notice a pattern here it's that the rules build up redundant safeties.  If you forgot Rule #1, hopefully Rule #2 will mitigate any serious injury or damage.  Rule #3 is a redundant safety for the other two.  If you lose your head up your rear and forget the gun is always loaded and start pointing your musket around like a spotlight, this rule will hopefully mitigate the chances of you popping off a round into your leg, hand, or something more important.

Hopefully, and I mean this, hopefully someone else sees your lack of brain activity and knocks some sense into you.

Let me get into a bit of why this rule is important.  There's this physiological phenomenon known as sympathetic reflex response. In a nutshell, this means under stress one hand wants to mimic what the other hand is doing.

Example #1:

You have your gun drawn at an imminent threat.  You have not decided to shoot.  You fail to follow Rule #3.  You use your other hand to grab a loved one to move them out of the way and your gun discharges a round.

Example #2:

You may or may not have seen the footage of the Las Vegas officer having a negligent discharge.  Here is the YouTube link if you haven't.

It's hard to see but the officer goes to activate her radio with her left hand and when she squeezes the mic she discharges the gun.  SYMPATHETIC REFLEX RESPONSE.

This is also known as Trigger Discipline.  This is an important rule (all the rules are important).

4. Be Sure Of Your Target And Aware Of Its Surroundings

This one is almost painfully obvious.  Be dang SURE of what you're shooting at. You need to know 100% you can shoot at what you're shooting at.  Target ID is key.  Whether you're at the paper range or the two-way range.  In these United States you are responsible for every single bullet that exits your firearm.  You need to SURE of your target.  There is no excuse otherwise.  We do not practice blind-fire or Spray-and-Pray.

The second part of this rule is important to keep in mind.  Let me explain.  I will give a couple different examples.  At the paper range you need to know your target and make sure no knuckleheads are downrange potentially in the way of your paper-hole-punching-bullets.

But what about in the mall parking lot?  You are faced with a valid threat.  You are 100% sure of what you're shooting at. Now, behind this idiot is a family of four clueless to what is playing out in light speed before you.  Here is where judgment comes into play.  You are sure of your target and aware of your surroundings.  Can you guarantee the hits?  You may need to fire regardless of what's behind your target and, therefore, you need to be able to guarantee hits to mitigate collateral damage.  (The term Collateral Damage gives little comfort when that collateral damage is your kid or an innocent family).

Remember, we are accountable for every action and every single bullet fired from our firearms.

Those are the RULES in a nutshell.  Primarily described and detailed for novices or those learning to shoot.

Rules are there to support training.  Like this picture:

See what he did there?  I put that picture in for a laugh after the graphic injury photo, but the Rules are the foundation to all training.  From beginning to advanced.  They are not just rules for beginners.  They are rules for anyone touching or in the vicinity of a firearm.

Now, I believe you should start teaching and learning the Rules as early as responsibly possible.  That's going to be a judgement call I can;t make from here.

A Different Way

Now, some people argue that the gun Rules are basic or for novices or those who don't do this professionally.  I'd argue that the Rules apply to everyone, but perhaps the methodology of instruction can change.  Don't let ego get in the way of safe handling.

As professionals we should know the status of out weapon at all times.  We don't point our firearms at anything we are not willing to destroy.  We don't touch the trigger until we are on target and we have made the decision to shoot.  We are sure of our targets and aware of our surroundings: in front of target, behind target, to the sides of the target.

See?  Same rules, across novice to advanced capability.

Here's an old saying:

"Advanced tactics are just the basics performed perfectly"

Ultimately, when the firearm is in your hand your brain needs to be fully engaged.  That will cover all the rules all the time.  You can't let yourself get into the destructive habit that a firearm is to be played with or begin to handle it with reckless abandon.  IT'S NOT A TOY.

That picture of the hole in the hand was a result of the use covering his support hand and then a gross violation of all the gun rules in order.  He did not treat it as if it was loaded, because he let the muzzle cover his hand.  He did not keep it away from something he was not willing to destroy, because, again, he let it cover his hand.  He did not keep his finger off the trigger until on target and the conscious decision to shoot has been made, because he let it cover his hand.  And, clearly, he wasn't sure of his target, because he blew a freaking hole clean through his hand!

Avoid stupid, negligent accidents by obeying the gun rules.  They apply just as aptly to the paper-range as to the two-way range.  They are universal and should be taught and received as such.