4 Rules of Gun Safety Everyone Should Know
If you or any member of your home has access to or ever intends to use a firearm, it’s important they at least know the basic 4 Rules of Gun Safety. While inexhaustive of the comprehensive nature of gun safety, these basic rules can help prevent accidents related to firearms.
On average, 492 people unintentionally die each year due to gun-related accidents. Most of these deaths occur by children in the home. They could possibly be avoided with a preliminary knowledge of how to handle a gun. That’s why it’s important for all members of the family, even if not the primary gun owner, to at least be informed of the most basic 4 Rules of Gun Safety.
- Treat all guns as though they are loaded
- Never point your gun at anything you don’t intend to shoot
- Keep your finger off the trigger until you’re ready to shoot
- Always be sure of your target and what’s beyond it
1. Treat all guns as though they are loaded
The first of the 4 Rules of Gun Safety and maybe the most important is to treat all guns as though they are loaded. Even if you have personally checked and unloaded it. This develops a habit of gun safety.
Your firearms should only be loaded when you are on the target range, shooting area, or in the field ready to shoot. Whenever you handle a firearm or hand it to someone, always immediately visually check the chamber, receiver, and magazine. Make sure there is no ammunition. Never simply assume that a firearm is unloaded. This is one of the habits that marks an experienced gun handler.
2. Never point your gun at anything you don’t intend to shoot
The next tenant of the 4 Rules of Gun Safety is to never point your gun at anything you don’t intend to shoot. Always keep your gun pointed in a safe direction. This particularly applies to when you are loading and unloading your weapon. In the instance of an accidental discharge, if your muzzle is always pointed in a safe direction, no accidental injury can occur.
3. Keep your finger off the trigger until you’re ready to shoot
Next, keep your finger off the trigger of your firearm until you are actually ready to shoot. This applies even when you are loading and unloading your weapon. You also need to keep your finger off the trigger when the safety is on the “safe” position, in case of a malfunction. A gun can possibly fire at any time. Keeping that in mind and never touching the trigger until you’re ready to shoot is a critical tenant of the 4 Rules of Gun Safety.
4. Always be sure of your target and what’s beyond it
The last tenant of the basic 4 Rules of Gun Safety is to always be sure of your target and what’s beyond it. Only shoot when you know exactly what you will strike, taking into account anyone or anything that might be beyond your target. Be aware of the range and velocity possible for your bullet to travel in case your intended target is missed or a ricochet in another direction occurs.
Bonus rule: Always secure your weapon from unauthorized persons
Always store and secure your weapons so they aren’t accessible unauthorized persons. Unauthorized users include, children, friends, welcomed guests, and unwelcomed guests such as criminals who might enter your home. Make sure you as the registered gun owner, using the basic 4 Rules of Gun Saftey, are the only one who has access to your firearms.
Interested in owning your first weapon or adding to your collection? With years of experience in the industry, trust our team to help you find exactly what you are looking for. At Liberty Shooting Sports, we carry a wide variety of pistols, rifles, and shotguns from numerous makers. We strive to provide the highest quality products and services to all of our customers.
Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, we help you protect what’s important. We not only specialize in unique firearms and equipment. We also focus on offering you what’s most important: peace of mind. That’s why we provide only the best quality new and used firearms, ammunition, pepper spray, and less-lethal defense equipment to all our clients. Check out our blog for more helpful information!