Bourneshooter
Blue Line Sheepdog
Firearms Safety Rules:
NRA/Square Range vs Real Word:
NRA:
These are the "Real World Rules" I use for teaching application of safety to carrying a gun for a living:
"Real World Firearms Safety Rules
Revised March 9th, 2015
Deputy Matthew Levi
1. Treat your weapon as if it were loaded, unless you have specifically made it otherwise, verified its condition, and had someone else verify its condition. Don’t treat it likes it’s radioactive. Treat it like it’s a firearm and you will be safe. Since this is a hot range, this should be a real easy rule to remember.
2. Do not intentionally or deliberately point your muzzle at anything you are not willing to destroy, without an adequate reason for doing so. This is a practical training class, in a training environment. For the square range make a conscious decision to NOT point your weapon at other people. In the real world, you do occasionally have to point your firearm at other people. Only point it at someone you can justify your gun pointed at if it were to go off.
3. Know what is between you and your target, and to either side of your target. We’re not going to be operating on the square range in the real world. You will have good guys and innocents down-range of you in addition to the suspect. Pay attention to your surroundings. Consider the reality that you might miss. The reality that someone may step in the way of your shot, and the reality that your round may punch all the way through someone and keep going. Most of all, consider the reality that you might miss.
4. Keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot. If you fail in all three of the preceding rules, there is a fourth one for good measure. If you point your weapon at someone while it’s loaded, but don’t pull the trigger, the worse thing that will happen is you will get beat up. Unless you are actively engaging a target, with a solid sight picture, there is no reason, whatsoever, for your finger to be on the trigger. It will not make you any faster, to run around with your finger already on the trigger.
5. Use your mechanical safety. It’s there for a reason. It works really, really well. If you’re running and you trip or if you sling your rifle for whatever reason, it’s entirely within the realm of the probable for a stub/finger/piece of gear/etc. to end up inside your trigger well. That will cause a bang if your safety is not engaged.
There is a zero tolerance policy for safety. If you violate safety rules, you are gone."
NRA/Square Range vs Real Word:
NRA:
- ALWAYS keep the gun pointed in a safe direction. This is the primary rule of gun safety. A safe direction means that the gun is pointed so that even if it were to go off it would not cause injury or damage. The key to this rule is to control where the muzzle or front end of the barrel is pointed at all times. Common sense dictates the safest direction, depending on different circumstances.
- ALWAYS keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot. When holding a gun, rest your finger on the trigger guard or along the side of the gun. Until you are actually ready to fire, do not touch the trigger.
- ALWAYS keep the gun unloaded until ready to use. Whenever you pick up a gun, immediately engage the safety device if possible, and, if the gun has a magazine, remove it before opening the action and looking into the chamber(s) which should be clear of ammunition. If you do not know how to open the action or inspect the chamber(s), leave the gun alone and get help from someone who does.
- Know your target and what is beyond. Be absolutely sure you have identified your target beyond any doubt. Equally important, be aware of the area beyond your target. This means observing your prospective area of fire before you shoot. Never fire in a direction in which there are people or any other potential for mishap. Think first. Shoot second.
These are the "Real World Rules" I use for teaching application of safety to carrying a gun for a living:
"Real World Firearms Safety Rules
Revised March 9th, 2015
Deputy Matthew Levi
1. Treat your weapon as if it were loaded, unless you have specifically made it otherwise, verified its condition, and had someone else verify its condition. Don’t treat it likes it’s radioactive. Treat it like it’s a firearm and you will be safe. Since this is a hot range, this should be a real easy rule to remember.
2. Do not intentionally or deliberately point your muzzle at anything you are not willing to destroy, without an adequate reason for doing so. This is a practical training class, in a training environment. For the square range make a conscious decision to NOT point your weapon at other people. In the real world, you do occasionally have to point your firearm at other people. Only point it at someone you can justify your gun pointed at if it were to go off.
3. Know what is between you and your target, and to either side of your target. We’re not going to be operating on the square range in the real world. You will have good guys and innocents down-range of you in addition to the suspect. Pay attention to your surroundings. Consider the reality that you might miss. The reality that someone may step in the way of your shot, and the reality that your round may punch all the way through someone and keep going. Most of all, consider the reality that you might miss.
4. Keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot. If you fail in all three of the preceding rules, there is a fourth one for good measure. If you point your weapon at someone while it’s loaded, but don’t pull the trigger, the worse thing that will happen is you will get beat up. Unless you are actively engaging a target, with a solid sight picture, there is no reason, whatsoever, for your finger to be on the trigger. It will not make you any faster, to run around with your finger already on the trigger.
5. Use your mechanical safety. It’s there for a reason. It works really, really well. If you’re running and you trip or if you sling your rifle for whatever reason, it’s entirely within the realm of the probable for a stub/finger/piece of gear/etc. to end up inside your trigger well. That will cause a bang if your safety is not engaged.
There is a zero tolerance policy for safety. If you violate safety rules, you are gone."
