The Four Basic Rules of Gun Safety You Should Never Forget

Don’t have a gun yet but you plan to get a gun license and a firearm sometime later? Before you do, it’ll be smart to look up the basic gun safety rules.

In the past years, we’ve seen a decline in accidental shooting deaths. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that there were 824 accidental shooting deaths in 1999. In 2015, data shows unintentional shooting deaths dropped down to 489.

A big part of this decline is due to the practice of the four rules of gun safety.

Knowing and making a habit of these rules can lower the risk of accidental gun shootings. Read on below for a guide on these four gun safety rules.

1. Rule 1: All Guns Are Always Loaded

The first of the four rules of gun safety is to assume that all firearms are always loaded.

How many accidental shooters have claimed to think that their guns were not loaded? No matter what, always treat all guns as loaded until you verify in person that it isn’t.

Remember this: you can still have a round in the chamber even after you remove a magazine from the firearm. The best way to make sure that a gun isn’t loaded is to check the chamber for ammunition. Even if someone claims a firearm is not loaded, check to make sure.

In line with this rule, you must always perform a safety check on a firearm. The true key to safety is to do this before and after you handle it. And even after you do, treat it as you would a loaded gun.

This is a very important rule if you are the type of person to forget small details. If you are prone to forgetting things, then it’s safer to safety check your gun all the time. Even if you aren’t a forgetful type, it’s still better to live by the “always safety check before and after” rule.

The same applies to those who pick up a gun they didn’t load in person. If you are picking up a gun that isn’t yours, perform a safety check. Before you take your gun from its keeping place, check if it’s loaded first.

Even if you had a good reason to lend your firearm to someone else, it’s safe to give it to them unloaded.

2. Rule 2: Never Point the Gun at Anything You Are Not Willing to Destroy

When you’re handling a firearm, it’s a smart move to point the muzzle on the ground or in a clear area. This is a secondary safety for when you fail to check the gun for safety. Point the gun at safe areas so you avoid causing injuries in case it fires by accident.

Even when you know that the gun is not loaded, keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction. Keep this rule in mind even when you’re not in the range. Whether you plan to clean, keep, or transport your firearm, point it in a safe direction.

There are two safe directions to point your gun at. It’s up into the sky and down to the ground. Any other direction is an unsafe direction unless it’s down the range.

A good habit to develop for gun safety is to maintain situational awareness. Even before you handle a firearm, take note of your environment. Determine the safe directions for the environment you’re in.

For example, if you’re in an indoor range, pointing your gun up isn’t a practical idea. An accidental misfire may bounce off the ceiling and harm a bystander. After you make sure the gun is not loaded, always point it at the ground.

This rule is especially important for gun owners who like to brandish their firearms. You never know when a misfire can happen so play it safe and point your gun at safe directions.

If you are sure of what you’re aiming your gun at, then you need to make sure it doesn’t misfire. One way to do this is to get the best material for your firearm. You can check here for 2A Armament, which promises prime-quality materials for firearms.

 

3. Rule 3: Keep Your Finger Off The Trigger

Did you know that firearms were the third-ranking cause of death in the United States in 2016? In that year, there were a total of 161,374 deaths recorded from unintentional shooting injuries.

One source of misconception can be often found in movies and TV shows. These shows portray characters with their “trigger finger in” when they handle guns. Examples include Pulp Fiction, Inception, and the John Wick movie series.

Pulp Fiction gives a great example of the consequences of having a “trigger finger in” habit. In the scene, John Travolta’s character shoots a man by accident when their car hits a bump. The reason for the misfire: his trigger finger was in.

There’s a reason why this is one of the cardinal gun safety rules. A lot of people have learned their lessons from neglecting it. Don’t wait for you to learn the lesson from personal experience.

Instead, learn from the mistakes of others. Make it a habit to keep your trigger finger out until you’re sure of the target. Even when you’re sure that the gun is not loaded or that it’s pointed in a safe direction, keep your trigger finger out.

Guns have a groove outside the trigger. This space is specifically meant for you to rest your finger whenever you’re not firing. Keep your trigger finger here instead and this can prevent future misfires.

This rule is especially important for jumpy people. Even if you aren’t the type who’s always on edge, do it anyway. You never know when you might hit a metaphorical bump in the road.

4. Rule 4: Know Your Target and What Is Behind It

The first rule focuses on the gun. The second brings your attention to your surroundings. The third gun safety rule focuses on you and your decision to fire.

This rule emphasizes your target and its surroundings. In particular, it brings your attention to what’s behind the target. This is the last of the basic gun safety rules yet it isn’t any less important than the rest.

Remember that bullets can penetrate barriers and travel a long distance before they lose lethal momentum. This is why you need to make sure that there isn’t a living being downrange before you shoot. If someone is about to go downrange, wait for them to clear it before you shoot.

If you aren’t shooting downrange in a gun shooting range, be very careful what you shoot. Always consider that barrier penetration is a great possibility. If you plan to post targets at the side of the barn, make sure its inside is empty of people, livestock, and machinery.

Do you have a private piece of land where you practice shooting your firearm? Always make sure that the area is clear.

There is also a chance that your bullet fires above, to the left or right of the target. This is true for those who are only starting to find familiarity with aiming a gun. You want nobody in the “firing line” before you practice aiming.

You can imagine the “firing line” before you take a shot. Imagine a horizontal line running from where you’re standing that goes from your right to your left. This is your firing line and nobody should be in it or on the way to it when you aim to take your shot.

When you store your firearms, they need to be inaccessible to unauthorized persons. This includes family members, friends, and guests. You should consider investing in a biometric safe.

5. More Essential Rules of Gun Safety

The four rules of firearm safety are the most basic of safety rules for gun owners and handlers. However, there are more things you should consider and make a habit of. Below, we’ve added some extra rules that are also beneficial for the safety of everyone.

The first one is to secure your firearm from all unauthorized persons. When you store your firearms, they need to be inaccessible to unauthorized persons. This includes family members, friends, and guests.

Your gun is more than a tool for your safety. It is also your responsibility. As a gun owner, you got the permit to carry one. This is because you have the safety training to be able to use and handle it.

It’s also a good idea to clean and maintain your firearm on a regular basis. This prevents the gun from becoming unpredictable and unreliable. It’s best to clean your firearm after each time you fire or after every use at the very least.

Follow the Four Rules of Gun Safety

These are the four rules of gun safety that every gun owner should know by heart.

Following these gun safety rules can lower the risk of accidental gun shootings. Remember that a trip to the hospital can take a lot of your time and money. If you shoot someone else, you may even get sued for a single mistake.

The extra rules we added are there to guide you on advanced gun safety, too. Did you find this guide on the four basic gun safety rules educational and enjoyable? You can check out our other guides for more informative content like this.