12 Critical Gun Safety Rules You Can’t Ignore

Guns are outstanding tools, both for pleasure and business. But before you purchase or use a gun, it’s essential that you understand how to do it safely.

Knowing the safety rules will allow you to enjoy your gun in a responsible manner. It will also prevent you and those you care about from getting injured.

In addition to learning these rules yourself, you should also teach these to anyone who will be shooting with you. This ensures maximum safety for everyone.

Here are 12 critical gun safety rules you can’t afford to ignore.

1. Understand How To Properly Use A Gun
2. Ensure The Gun Is Safe To Use
3. Only Use The Proper Ammunition
4. Always Keep Your Muzzle Pointed In A Safe Direction
5. Know What You’re Shooting At
6. Keep Your Finger Off The Trigger Until You Are Ready To Fire
7. Wear Ear and Eye Protection As Appropriate
8. Check Your Barrel Before Using Your Gun
9. Use Caution If There Is A Misfire
10. Alcohol and Guns Don’t Mix
11. Don’t Alter Your Gun
12. Store Your Gun Safely and Securely

Now, let’s take a closer look at each safety rule.

#1 – Understand How To Properly Use A Gun

It’s the classic movie scene. Someone holds a gun for the first time and begins swinging it around, randomly pointing it at things. “Woah, watch you’re pointing that thing!” someone will yell.

It’s a scene that always good for a few laughs, but it also touches on reality. Too many people don’t know how to safely operate a gun. They don’t understand how to properly load and unload ammunition, hold a gun, or operate the safety. Or, they rely too heavily on the safety, forgetting that there’s always a possibility it could fail.

The first and most important gun safety rule is to learn how to properly use a gun. The number one cause of accidents is always going to be improper use of firearms. Learning how to properly use guns goes a long way toward creating safety.

#2 – Ensure The Gun Is Safe To Use

When was the last time you performed maintenance on your firearm? Remember, guns are just like every other tool. They require consistent maintenance to function properly. You wouldn’t endlessly use a saw without ever sharpening the blade. A dull blade can lead to the saw malfunctioning, which in turn can cause injury.

The same goes for guns. If you don’t regularly clean, repair, and maintain your firearms, there’s a good chance something will go wrong at the worst time. You certainly don’t want your gun to malfunction when you, a family member, or a friend is using it.

If you don’t know how to perform effective gun maintenance, consider using a gunsmith.

Here’s a length tutorial about gun maintenance:

#3 – Only Use The Proper Ammunition

Not all ammunition is created equal. You can’t pop bullets out of one gun, stick them in the magazine of another, and then begin shooting. Well, you can do that, but it’s a terrible idea.

Why? To state the obvious, different firearms require different ammunition. Just like you can’t use diesel fuel in a standard car, you can’t interchange ammunition between different guns.

Only use the ammunition intended for your firearm. Most guns have the ammunition type stamped on the barrel. Boxes of ammunition have the type listed on the side and the cartridges themselves usually have the type of ammo stamped on them.

#4 – Always Keep Your Muzzle Pointed In A Safe Direction

This is one of the most basic rules of gun safety. In fact, if people always followed this rule, the number of accidents would be dramatically reduced, if not completely eliminated.

Pointing your muzzle in a safe direction means, first holstering it properly using a reputable holster brand, and secondly never pointing your gun at a target you don’t intend to shoot. You should even maintain this habit while loading and unloading your gun or dry firing it.

This is your number one responsibility when using a firearm, even if you stumble. You must control your muzzle and keep it pointed in a safe direction.

#5 – Know What You’re Shooting At

You know the old maxim that says, “Measure twice, cut once”? It similar for firing a gun. Always look twice (or many more times) before you shoot. You absolutely must establish your target, especially if you’re in an area where it’s difficult to see. The last thing you want is to fire at what you think is an animal, only to realize it’s a person.

That’s every gun owner’s worst nightmare. Every year, approximately 1,000 people are accidentally shot by hunters, which is a relatively small number given the millions of people who hunt. But still, this shows the necessity of knowing your target.

Additionally, it’s crucial to know what’s beyond your target. Remember, your bullets can travel an enormous length beyond your target. If you don’t know what lies behind, there’s a chance you could accidentally strike a structure or even a person.

#6 – Keep Your Finger Off The Trigger Until You Are Ready To Fire

As long as your finger is away from the trigger, you won’t accidentally shoot the gun. By observing this rule, you can always avoid a negligent or accidental discharge.

When you pick up your gun, do so with your finger off the trigger. When you point at your target, keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to fire.

This, along with always keeping your muzzle in a safe direction, will significantly reduce the risk of injury.

#7 – Wear Ear and Eye Protection As Appropriate

Most guns create loud noises when firing, which can lead to ear damage if appropriate precautions aren’t taken. Firearms cans also discharge gases and debris, which have the potential to hurt your eyes. Depending on your target, bullets striking things can also cause debris to fly through the air.

When appropriate, you should wear ear and eye protection. There are a large variety of ear and eye protectors to fit just about any person.

#8 – Check Your Barrel Before Using Your Gun

Ideally, you should clean your gun barrel prior to shooting. Just a small bit of debris, such as snow, oil, or dirt can cause increased pressure in the barrel, leading to a bulge or explosion. If you fail to clear obstructions, you or bystanders could be hurt when you shoot.

Don’t rush to fire your gun. Take the time to open the action, check the barrel, and then clean your barrel with a cleaning rod. Yes, it will take a few extra minutes, but it’s worth it.

Here’s a simple guide to regularly cleaning your gun barrel:

#9 – Use Caution If There Is A Misfire

There will be times when you pull the trigger but the gun does not fire. When that happens, do NOT continue pulling the trigger in an effort to fire the gun. There could be a cartridge jammed in the barrel.

If the gun misfires, point the muzzle in a safe direction and keep your face away from the breech. Carefully open the action, withdraw the cartridge, and then throw it away. Muzzle direction is just as important here. A bullet is still in the gun even though it didn’t fire.

If the gun continues to misfire, stop using it and perform maintenance on it when you get home.

#10 – Alcohol and Guns Don’t Mix

You should NEVER use firearms when you’re under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Guns require close attention to detail and safety. They require eye hand coordination and the ability to think clearly. You also need crystal clear judgment when using firearms.

For these reasons, it’s essential to never use firearms while intoxicated. It’s an absolute recipe for disaster. You should have the same attitude toward shooting under the influence as you do driving under the influence.

Plus, it’s almost always illegal to possess a firearm while under the influence. Not only could it have a tragic outcome, you could also end up in prison.

Guns and alcohol simply don’t mix.

#11 – Don’t Alter Your Gun

There are several reasons you shouldn’t alter your gun. First, it usually voids the factory warranty, meaning you won’t get any compensation if the gun is damaged or faulty.

More importantly, it’s just not safe. Guns are complicated tools with numerous interrelated parts. They were specifically designed by experts and work in a very particular manner. Altering your gun can cause malfunctions, which can be dangerous.

Additionally, you should only let a qualified, trained person repair your gun. You risk more damage and danger by letting a novice try to fix a complicated problem.

#12 – Store Your Guns Safely

When not in use, your guns should be stored in a safe, secure location. Thankfully, there is a wide variety of gun storage lockers and safes, as well as locking mechanisms for triggers. This is especially crucial if you live in a house with young children who could access a gun.

Before storing your guns, remove all ammunition from the barrels and magazines. You may want to lock your ammunition in a different location as an additional precaution.

Conclusion

These safety rules should be followed at all times. Neglecting them can lead to bad outcomes for you and those around you. By taking the time necessary to properly handle, maintain, and store your firearm, you can be confident that you’ll have years of safe, enjoyable shooting.

When it comes to shooting you’ll need to protect both your gun and your home. For home defense, we recommend a quality gun safe and at the range you’ll need ear protection as well as eye protection.

Recommended Reading

Educating Children About Gun Safety

Essential Firearm Safety

Kids And Gun Safety

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