Four Rules Of Gun Safety

We have all heard the saying, "Rules Were Made To Be BROKEN!" That may be true if you are eating dessert first, but when it comes to firearms, breaking the rules has deadly consequences. Today we are going to review the four universal rules. I can hear you now, "Why review? I already know them and I'm a safe shooter!"  

Maybe you are, maybe you aren't.  A little review never hurt anyone, just like it really does not hurt to eat dinner first before dessert.

Before we discuss The Rules, here is a little story for you to consider, that happened to yours truly about a year ago:


I was behind the counter one stormy afternoon, when a young couple ventured in for some gunpowder therapy. They rented one of our Daniel Defense AR-15s. They shot the last of their rounds and exited the range, happy smiles plastered all over their faces. While it was great to see satisfied customers, imagine if you will how it felt for me, with the muzzle pointed at my chest, the persons finger on the trigger, bolt closed and magazine still in the rifle? If you're thinking, "Not too good!" you would be correct. (And that is putting it mildly.) As I quickly redirected the muzzle and briefed the customers on the proper etiquette, also noting that the safety was in the FIRE position and not the SAFE position, I dropped the magazine and pulled the charging handle.

Lo and behold, out popped a live round.

To say I was not pleased is an understatement. 

Image from Google.

RULE ONE:
Treat Every Gun As If It Was Loaded!
What does this mean? 
Well, look at it from our point of view. (That POV being range staff, behind the rental counter.) When you are done shooting and exit the range, and you come towards us with the magazine in the gun, the muzzle pointed directly at us with the chamber closed, we have no way of knowing if that gun is empty or not. (Please do not break your arm patting your back on this one, congratulating yourself for not being like the couple in the above story. They were, in their words, "...both experienced shooters," and "..had been shooting for years." They were also COMPLACENT.)

We get a little twitchy here.

YOU may *know* that gun is empty. But then again.... if we staffers had a dollar for every allegedly empty gun we have cleared, we'd be dining on steak dinners and driving much nicer vehicles.

To sum this up- EVERY Gun Is Loaded, At All Times. When you hand over a firearm to another person, magazine is out and slide locked to the rear. In the case of revolvers, cylinder is open, and stays that way.

Not a great sight when pointed at YOU. Image from Google

RULE TWO:
Never Point A Gun At Anything You Are Not Willing To Destroy!
In other words, Muzzle In A Safe Direction At All Times!

When brand new customers come in to shoot for the very first time, we staff provide a quick safety briefing before we take the line. One of the first things I point out is where the muzzle is. I will say, "This is the muzzle. This is the business end. Once the projectile leaves the muzzle, there is no calling it back and it is absolutely no body's friend. You will keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction at all times." We then touch on what is a safe direction and what is not. It may seem like common sense. You would be shocked though how often this simple rule is violated and we staff have muzzles pointed at us. 

If we seem a wee bit jumpy at times when you visit, you're starting to get an idea WHY. 

Finger! OFF! The! Trigger! Image from Google

RULE THREE:
Keep Your Finger OFF The Trigger Until You Are Ready To Shoot!

Seems simple enough, doesn't it? Place your trigger finger outside the trigger guard, not touching the trigger at all. Much like being aware of muzzle direction, folks wind up with fingers all over triggers while pointing guns in very unsafe directions. Like at other people on the sales floor and range. Or at range staff members. 

You get the idea why we tend to be a bit twitchy and have no patience a lot of days, right?

Sure that's a nice deer- nice house too. Image from Google.

RULE FOUR:
Always Be Aware Of Your Target And What Is Beyond Your Target!

This also seems simple. However, it is again somewhat shocking just how many people are under the impression that no, THEY did not send a round into the ceiling, because the target (in our facility the targets are of the paper variety,) stopped the round. So wrong, on so many levels. 

You, as a shooter, have to understand that the round fired from the gun in your hand is traveling at an incredibly high rate of speed. No matter what type of round it is, there is NO GUARANTEE that it will STOP on impacting the target. None. If you are in your apartment at night, and a goon breaks in and you shoot, where will that round potentially wind up? Will it hit the bad guy, go through him, through the sheetrock, and into the neighbors? Will it strike a water heater? A child? Your dog or cat? You have got to pay attention to what is beyond the target. You have got to understand that paper will not stop a round. Nor will many other things. 

Let's take a look back at the story of our two happy customers.
How many of the Four Universal Rules did they break?
1) The firearm was not shown to be clear (bolt closed, magazine in, and safety in the FIRE position)
2) Muzzle was pointed in an unsafe direction (at ME.)
3) There was a finger ALL OVER the trigger.
4) There was no comprehension that behind ME were more people.

For the safety of everyone around you, follow these rules. They are simple. They are common sense. They exist for a reason. Be aware, we range staff will not hesitate to loudly point out the error of your ways should that finger be on the trigger while the gun is pointed at us. Save our sanity.

And remember:
COMPLACENCY. KILLS.

Every gun is loaded. Muzzles downrange/ in a safe direction. Fingers OFF the trigger. Don't point the gun at anything you are not willing to destroy. 

Keep it safe out there, please!
Shannon

Range Time You Need- Train You Must

One of the saddest things I see in my job as an NRA Certified Instructor is the ladies who come to the range to purchase a firearm and think that just because they now own a gun, they will be safe. Ladies, I am very sorry to report that this is not how it works. 

Owning a gun is a step- one of many that need to be taken. Proper education in your gun's use is critical. I recently read a news story on a nurse in NC, who had broken up with an allegedly violent man. She obtained a restraining order, took a basic pistol class and obtained her permit to legally carry her firearm. In fact, she had two. But she didn't continue to train. Her ex violated the restraining order, and wound up killing her. She did get one shot off before her gun jammed, striking her assailant in the leg. She neglected to go to her back up gun, choosing instead to run and call for help. As she was running, the ex calmly loaded his gun, fired and struck her, killing her.
 
This story did not have to end this way.

You need to obtain training.  And you need to practice.

How do you find the right instructor?
There are an abundance of options available for firearms training today. Your best option is to seek out certified instructors. These people have devoted a considerable amount of time to learning HOW to teach, so you the consumer get the most for your money. You will want to meet with your instructor before class if at all possible. Get a feel for their personality and see if they are going to mesh with yours. Ask your friends where they trained, and what they thought. 

What course do you begin with?
We offer a HANDGUN FUNDAMENTALS course twice a month at Patrick's. It teaches exactly what the name implies: the Fundamentals of shooting a Handgun. In it, you will learn safety, grip, stance, breathing, aim, focus, and trigger control. These are the basic fundamentals that once mastered, you can apply to any handgun and safely, accurately fire. 

This is NOT a defensive course. Do yourself a favor and walk before you run. 

What does training cost?
Cost is a concern for many students, with prices varying from instructor to instructor. Our Handgun Fundamentals course is $50.00, and we provide everything you need. One on one individual training is $75 an hour plus lane fees. This may seem quite costly to you- but please stop for a moment and understand something- as instructors, we have spent many hours of our time and a significant number of our own dollars obtaining the best education we can, so that we may keep YOU safe. $75 an hour might seem expensive. However, how much is your life worth? Or the life of your loved one?

Are there steps you can practice at home?
Yes. You can (with a clear- or empty- gun) practice drawing and dry firing. Place all ammunition and magazines in another room, minimize distractions, and concentrate on learning to draw safely from your chosen method of carry. Please train yourself to keep your finger OFF the trigger at all times. Dry fire and drawing practice provide you with an excellent opportunity to consider where and how you wish to carry, and learn the most effective position for you. Remember- knowledge is power and it weighs nothing.

Once you have attended a basic level course, and spent some time applying what you have learned on the range, then it is time for a defensive use course. 

Often times, there are well intentioned people in our lives who offer to help us learn. While their hearts may be true, learning from someone you have a relationship with can be incredibly difficult. The problem arises with communication. A certified firearms instructor learns more than about the firearms- we learn how to teach. When you have a relationship with someone, you tend to automatically expect the person with you to know what you are thinking, or to understand more than you are saying. That might be fine when you're discussing how to make the perfect grilled cheese, bacon and mater sandwich, but when it comes to something deadly, clear, crisp, concise communication is exceedingly important. 







To sum up today, find an instructor you are comfortable with. Practice your fundamentals. Invest a bit of time in truly learning a life saving skill set. 

I'll look forward to seeing you at the range!
Shannon

Join us! Handgun Fundamentals is the first and third Saturday each month. Class begins at 8:00 sharp, please plan to arrive by 7:45 to sign in. We provide everything you need for this class- no need to bring anything but YOU!

 

For The Ladies..

Ladies, did you know that more and more women are purchasing firearms, taking classes and enjoying the shooting sports? That's right- there are more women today involved in the firearms industry than at any point in history.

So why aren't there more of us involved in sharing our experiences? 

We are going to change that. This series of blog posts will deal specifically with issues faced by women. From making the decision to learn about firearms, taking a class or three, carry options, firearms and children,vehicular safety and more- we will be addressing YOUR needs and concerns. 

We'll begin right now, with a look into one of the most critical factors necessary.  It honestly makes no difference if you are a man or a woman- if you do not have the proper attitude, having a firearm is going to be worthless in a defensive situation.

What on Earth do I mean by that?

It's simple. 

One: Be aware that COMPLACENCY KILLS. 
Simply having a firearm means nothing. The act of owning a firearm and not training with it will get you hurt.

Two: You must believe that YOU are capable of training. You must believe in YOU-your ability, skills, and knowledge. That you CAN save your life, and that you have value. 
Does this mean you'll need a firearm in every potential defensive situation? No. It means you have enough training under your belt to KNOW your skills will save your life. (It does not grant you permission to be cocky, skip training, or not pay attention and plan ahead. Not by a long shot.)

Find out for yourself what YOU need and what you are capable of doing. Don't let a well intentioned person convince you that you'll never be able to handle a semi-automatic. Or that you need a lower caliber because there is less recoil. Or that you only need to keep the firearm on your nightstand.

Take the time to research and handle various firearms. 
Shoot as many as you can.
Attend a beginner level class and LEARN THE FUNDAMENTALS.

Ladies, find out for yourselves what you are capable of. 

You'll be surprised, I promise. 

In the meantime, shoot safe, shoot straight, and carry smart!
~Shannon at the Range
Come see us on Thursdays for LADIES DAY SPECIALS! Start your education right!