The 4 Laws of Gun Safety
Provided by Bill Nottingham .
(DISCLAIMER: This is not my original work - there are numerous versions of the Safety Laws. This is the version I liked best and expanded it to help promote gun safety with my friends and family. These are my personal opinions and attitudes and others may not agree. brn)
The 4 Laws of Gun Safety are the most fundamental safety rules for anyone that handles a gun. There are many additional rules for different situations, but these are ones that apply for ALL situations. The more often you handle guns the more likely someday you will have a Negligent Discharge (ND)! It's just a matter of when, where, and under what circumstances. If you are obeying the 4 Laws of Gun Safety when it happens, it will be VERY scary. IF YOU'RE NOT, IT COULD BE VERY TRAGIC!
EVERY TIME you pick up or draw a gun, inspect it in a safe manner, control your muzzle, and always treat it as a loaded gun. You should VISUALLY inspect your gun's chamber every time you pick it up even if you just sat it down moments before. It may seem redundant but establishing good habits may save a tragedy during a moment of "brain-fade". Remove all ammunition and loaded magazines from the immediate area when handling any gun. Also, if you hand someone your gun, VISUALLY show them the empty chamber and accept no less in return! An experienced gun handler would never feel insulted.
The best way to handle a gun is to imagine the worst case scenario: Assume your "empty" gun is loaded and that it's going to function PERFECTLY! When you press the trigger it will FIRE! Since you are prepared for that, you should only point the gun in a safe direction - never allowing the muzzle to sweep you or someone else. That way, if "brain-fade" does result in a Negligent Discharge (ND) , it will be into a safe impact area and there won't be a tragedy.
Bullets can penetrate lots of things, many of which may surprise you. Identify your target before firing - even before dry-firing. If you are not sure, DON'T FIRE! Just as important, make sure there's a safe impact area behind your target. For home dry-fire practice, find and aim only at a BULLET PROOF BACKSTOP. Even though you have checked and double-checked your gun, you should still treat your gun as though it's loaded and functional. Plasterboard walls and outer walls are not bulletproof. A handgun bullet can easily travel through several rooms before stopping. Who is in these rooms? If you're not sure, and you still aimed in that direction, SHAME ON YOU!
KEEP YOUR FINGER OUTSIDE THE TRIGGER GUARD! Almost all Negligent Discharges (ND) are caused by placing the finger on the trigger when you aren't prepared to fire. A finger on the trigger during reloading, during movement, during the draw, holstering, or while clearing a jam have led to several Negligent Discharges (ND). It's difficult to isolate the trigger finger from the muscles required to hold the gun firmly - they all want to contract together. It can be especially difficult under stress and anxiety. Therefore, THE FINGER SHOULD NOT TOUCH THE TRIGGER UNTIL THE INSTANT YOU ARE PREPARED TO FIRE! This holds true even if you find yourself in a legitimate self-defense situation.
In conclusion, you should take personal responsibility for the safety of your guns and for those persons you permit to handle them. Remember, even those with experience may have bad habits that die hard! Keep guns safely out of the hands of children, people that aren't trained or responsible, and especially THIEVES! If you enjoy your gun hobby, it's up to you to prevent a personal tragedy - while giving others the propaganda they need to take it away. More people would enjoy guns if properly socialized so do your part to keep it safe and fun!