BASIC FIREARM SAFETY RULES

[stix213]

I work with firearms and many times have been handed a firearm with one in the tube. All guns are always loaded.

Yeah "Always check if your gun is loaded yourself before handling" - done

[Matt C]

3) Always keep the gun unloaded until ready to use

Yeah I'll just tell the home invader "time out" while I load up.

[The Director]

Yeah I'll just tell the home invader "time out" while I load up.

yeah really.

[Vtec44]

Yeah I'll just tell the home invader "time out" while I load up.

No kidding.

[fiddletown]

...For example, he says when you put it down its loaded again, well how the heck are you supposed to transport a handgun in a locked case then if you think this way? You put it in a locked case, its no longer in your hands. Soooo you should treat it as if its loaded right?...

Again, Rule 1 is a rule of gun handling. The condition of a gun while in a locked case being transported, and as required by law, has nothing to do with it's condition for your purposes when you unlock the case and lay your hand on the gun.

When you go to touch the gun, Rule 1 prevents you from assuming it's unloaded. When you go to touch the gun, Rule 1 tells you that it's loaded, and you conduct yourself accordingly. You never take for granted that the gun may be unloaded.

...If I have a gun in my car locked up and unloaded, am with my GF or whoever, then I run into safeway to pick something up... Well the gun left my control, so its loaded. So should I in the middle of the safeway parking lot unlock the case, and take the pistol out so I can safety check it for every soccer mom to see?...

Preposterous.

Rule 1 is a rule of gun handling. In your hypothetical, you have no reason to handle your gun, so don't. Just leave it where it is.

But if you do have reason to handle your gun, Rule 1 applies; and you need to know that the gun is loaded. You then conduct yourself accordingly. But if you don't need to handle your gun, don't handle it.

...There are so many endless silly examples of exceptions to the "all guns are always loaded" rule you just can't call it a rule in my opinion.

Your opinion is noted, and I dismiss it. Rule 1 as stated by Jeff Cooper has served the needs of 30+ years of Gunsite instructors and students, instructors and students at many other schools, thousands of IPSC and IDPA competitors, etc.

...Seriously, how the hell do you expect people to take gun safety seriously when you tell them the most important rule is "all guns are always loaded" but you yourself have a list of exceptions to the rule? The result is the people you teach will pick up on the list of exceptions and treat that rule as meaningless,...

Actually, Jeff Cooper's Four Rules, including "All guns are always loaded" work very well in training. Over the years I've taught hundreds of students new to shooting, and I've never found anyone who had difficulty with them. They've proven their utility at Gunsite and many other schools.

...There is never any exception to any of the rules I use, so its easier to take them seriously and there isn't really any explaining necessary beyond them. ... The rules in my case are set in stone, and are easier for novices to learn, understand, and respect....

How do you know that your "rules" are easier for novices to understand and respect? How many novices have you taught to shoot? How many classes of beginning shooters have you taught? Where did you get your training?

On the other hand, Jeff Cooper's Four Rules have been used effectively in the teaching of novices by a great many instructors at a great many schools over a lot of years.

[G-forceJunkie]

How can you check it before you handle it? I get your point, but your overthinking it. The point is everytime a firearm hits your hands, you treat it like its loaded untill you have checked and proven otherwise. Its always the "unloaded" gun that shoots someone "While cleaning it." Coopers point is once a weapon has left your possesion, you no longer know its loaded/unloaded condition. So untill you check it, the next time you pick it up, treat it as if it were loaded. The general safety rules typically feature overlapping levels of safety, cross checks to previous actions. If everyone would follow one "Don't ever point the muzzle at anything you don't want to put a hole in" rule 100% of the time (impossiable, we are humans) all the rest would be moot. But that won't happen, hence a layered approach to firearms safety. For the record, my list is:

1)All firearms are loaded, all the time, treat them as such.
2) Keep your finger off the trigger untill you are on target and willing to fire
3) Never let your muzzle cover anyting you are not willing to destroy
4) Know your target, whats behind it, whats around it.

3) ALWAYS check if your gun is loaded yourself before handling

[Chester]

The safety rules I've adopted are:

1. Treat the gun as if it's always loaded (obviously sometimes it will be necessary to dry fire while cleaning or transport unloaded, but I will literally triple check first.)

2. Never point a gun at anything you neither intend to kill or destroy.

3. Keep your god damn finger off the MF'ing trigger! (obviously again with very few exceptions, e.g. breaking down a Glock or when shooting at something, in which case see number 1 and/or number 2)

I believe those three alone can prevent 100% of all negligent discharges.

In short, I agree!

[joepamjohn]

Preaching to the choir here, aren't you?

Based on the amount of tragic, needless gun related accidents you hear about almost daily a little refresher can't be a bad thing. Just because you own guns and are a Calguns regular does not mean you have a clue about gun safety.

[SAR_boats]

Mine:

1. Know how the firearm works and how to control it.
2. Maintain positive control of the firearm (You control the firearm, be aware of your surroundings)
3. Maintain trigger discipline
4. Maintain muzzle discipline
5. Make sure your firearms are in proper working order

[Thefeeder]

Still to many shooters at the range without the basic safety rules

[Thefeeder]

Back from the range. This needs to go up top.

[Steyrlp10]

Back from the range. This needs to go up top.

I think the other important thing for new shooters to understand is that each range has its own set of rules and should be reviewed. I've seen some people assume that they've seen and know it all, but safety is all about being safe, right?