Basic Firearm Safety... The Fundamental NRA Rules For Safe Gun Handling: Safety is fundamental to all shooting activities. Whether you're practicing at the range, cleaning your gun in your workshop, or defending your family from an attack, the rules of firearm safety always apply. Safe gun handling involves the development of knowledge, skills and attitudes - knowledge of the gun safety rules, the skill to apply these rules, and a safety-first attitude that arises from a sense of responsibility and a knowledge of potential dangers. Through there are many specific principles of safe firearm handling and operation, all are derived from just three basic gun safety rules. Fundamental Rules of Firearm Safety 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 upon the circumstances. If only this one safety rule were always followed, there would be no injuries or fatalities from accidental shootings. Always Keep Your Finger Off the Trigger Until Ready to Shoot. Always Keep Your Finger Off the Trigger Until Ready to Shoot. Your trigger finger should always be kept straight, alongside the frame and out of the trigger guard, until you have made the decision to shoot. When holding a gun, many people have a tendency to place their finger on the trigger, even when they are not ready to shoot. This is an extremely dangerous practice. Many negligent discharges are caused when the trigger of a loaded gun is inadvertently pressed by a finger carelessly left in the trigger guard instead of being positioned straight along the side of the gun's frame.
Always Keep the Firearm Unloaded Until Ready to Use. A firearm that is not being used should always be unloaded. For example, at the range, your firearm should be left unloaded while you walk downrange and check your target. Similarly, a firearm that is being stored in a gun safe or lock box should generally be unloaded (unless it is a personal protection firearm that may need to be accessed quickly for defensive purposes. As a general rule, whenever you pick up a gun, point it in a safe direction with your finger off the trigger, engage the safety (if the gun is equipped with one), remove the magazine (if the gun is equipped with a removable magazine), and then open the action and look into the chamber(s) to determine if the gun is loaded or not. Unless the firearm is being kept in a state of readiness for personal protection, it should be unloaded. If you do not know how to open the action or inspect the firearm, leave the gun alone and get help from someone who does, and consult the owner's manual that came with the gun.
Rules For Using or Storing A Gun TREAT ALL GUNS AS LOADED
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Always keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot. The trigger finger
should be placed alongside the gun's frame.
| “This class was very informational. I think before citizens are able to purchase a firearm they should be required to take this class. By being in this class I was able to learn my rights as a firearm owning citizen. The class was perfect, it included an instructional video and there was material available for hands on learning. The instructors were very involved and really cared that you were able to understand the materials covered in the classroom. The instructors used real life scenarios that helped class retain material.” |
| Rodney Reddick |
| “This class is a very good class. It help me learn a lot of stuff, like safely. I feel good about this class.” |
| Shane Howell |
| “This class is great for the understanding and confidence in using a handgun. The instruction of the class helps you determine when and what you need to do in case any situation arises. As far as things to do better for the class, I would say keep everything the same. All points were explained as needed and were given opportunity to ask and get questions answered.” |
| Anthony Floyd AnthonyFloyd@ Allstate.com |