National Carry AcademyBasic Guide to Firearm Safety
June 23, 2016
These are the basic rules arranged by Jeff Cooper for firearms safety. This applies to all shooters; including the newbies and the experienced ones. This should be remembered and done at all times and situations.
THEY MUST ALL BE LEARNED AND UNDERSTOOD BY HEART BY EVERY SHOOTER.
These are the rules for firearms safety:
- Always think that all guns are loaded.
- Do not point the gun at something you would not want to shoot.
- Do not put your finger on the trigger unless you have already pointed the muzzle to your target.
- Consider everything around your target.
RULE #1: ALWAYS THINK THAT ALL GUNS ARE LOADED.
Guns are loaded all the time! That’s it!
You must always set your mind with this rule at all times. You must treat every gun you handle as loaded. If a friend or even a relative lets you hold a gun and says, “That’s not loaded,” do not believe him or her. Instead, let him or her detach the magazine or open the chamber in front of you to prove that the gun is really unloaded. Or for a revolver, have him or her open the cylinder to take out all the bullets. And even though you are already sure that the firearm does not contain any bullet, you must still treat it as a loaded gun. Take note that there are no accidental discharges, only negligent discharges.
RULE #2: DO NOT POINT THE GUN AT SOMETHING YOU WOULD NOT WANT TO SHOOT.
This rule is applicable to all situations. Whether you are practicing on a shooting range, examining the parts of the gun or cleaning it, you must not point the gun at something you would not want to destroy. If you keep your gun in the holster properly, put it somewhere children could not reach or keep it in a locked container, you can make sure that it will not be a danger to anyone. There is only an increased risk once the owner holds the gun. So when you hold a gun, make sure that it is pointing to a safe direction. If you do not want to shoot a person, never point the muzzle at him! You should avoid pointing the muzzle at your legs or other parts of the body. When reholstering, use only one hand. A good holster must allow you to use only one hand. It is safe and strongly recommended to practice drawing and reholstering at home with an unloaded gun.
RULE #3: DO NOT PUT YOUR FINGER ON THE TRIGGER UNLESS YOU HAVE ALREADY POINTED THE MUZZLE TO YOUR TARGET.
Uneducated people often violate this rule, especially in a high-pressure environment. Often times, the hand moves as a single unit; grasping and putting the finger on the trigger are two actions that are hard to do separately. But then, you must remember to placie the index finger on the trigger guard only if the sights are already on the target. It can be dangerous to put your finger on the trigger when the sights are not yet on the target and you haven’t decided to fire yet. When someone or something in your environment suddenly moves or surprises you, you can have a negligent discharge. People who are posing for photographs must keep their fingers off the trigger as well.
RULE #4: CONSIDER EVERYTHING AROUND YOUR TARGET.
Assess your environment carefully. Know what’s behind, beside and in front of your target. If you have not identified someone or something, never ever shoot your gun. There are instances when the bullets pass through the target and hit the walls or other things around. You should be careful not to hit the innocent bystanders. Either in self-defense situations or target range shooting, make sure that you are aware of the surroundings and that you will be not be a threat to others.
We’d like to hear your feedback on the topic. Please share your thoughts on the above “rules”.
Basic Guide to Firearm Safety
June 23, 2016
These are the basic rules arranged by Jeff Cooper for firearms safety. This applies to all shooters; including the newbies and the experienced ones. This should be remembered and done at all times and situations.
THEY MUST ALL BE LEARNED AND UNDERSTOOD BY HEART BY EVERY SHOOTER.
These are the rules for firearms safety:
- Always think that all guns are loaded.
- Do not point the gun at something you would not want to shoot.
- Do not put your finger on the trigger unless you have already pointed the muzzle to your target.
- Consider everything around your target.
RULE #1: ALWAYS THINK THAT ALL GUNS ARE LOADED.
Guns are loaded all the time! That’s it!
You must always set your mind with this rule at all times. You must treat every gun you handle as loaded. If a friend or even a relative lets you hold a gun and says, “That’s not loaded,” do not believe him or her. Instead, let him or her detach the magazine or open the chamber in front of you to prove that the gun is really unloaded. Or for a revolver, have him or her open the cylinder to take out all the bullets. And even though you are already sure that the firearm does not contain any bullet, you must still treat it as a loaded gun. Take note that there are no accidental discharges, only negligent discharges.
RULE #2: DO NOT POINT THE GUN AT SOMETHING YOU WOULD NOT WANT TO SHOOT.
This rule is applicable to all situations. Whether you are practicing on a shooting range, examining the parts of the gun or cleaning it, you must not point the gun at something you would not want to destroy. If you keep your gun in the holster properly, put it somewhere children could not reach or keep it in a locked container, you can make sure that it will not be a danger to anyone. There is only an increased risk once the owner holds the gun. So when you hold a gun, make sure that it is pointing to a safe direction. If you do not want to shoot a person, never point the muzzle at him! You should avoid pointing the muzzle at your legs or other parts of the body. When reholstering, use only one hand. A good holster must allow you to use only one hand. It is safe and strongly recommended to practice drawing and reholstering at home with an unloaded gun.
RULE #3: DO NOT PUT YOUR FINGER ON THE TRIGGER UNLESS YOU HAVE ALREADY POINTED THE MUZZLE TO YOUR TARGET.
Uneducated people often violate this rule, especially in a high-pressure environment. Often times, the hand moves as a single unit; grasping and putting the finger on the trigger are two actions that are hard to do separately. But then, you must remember to placie the index finger on the trigger guard only if the sights are already on the target. It can be dangerous to put your finger on the trigger when the sights are not yet on the target and you haven’t decided to fire yet. When someone or something in your environment suddenly moves or surprises you, you can have a negligent discharge. People who are posing for photographs must keep their fingers off the trigger as well.
RULE #4: CONSIDER EVERYTHING AROUND YOUR TARGET.
Assess your environment carefully. Know what’s behind, beside and in front of your target. If you have not identified someone or something, never ever shoot your gun. There are instances when the bullets pass through the target and hit the walls or other things around. You should be careful not to hit the innocent bystanders. Either in self-defense situations or target range shooting, make sure that you are aware of the surroundings and that you will be not be a threat to others.
We’d like to hear your feedback on the topic. Please share your thoughts on the above “rules”.