(Newswire.net — July 30, 2021) –If you’re a new gun owner, you need to accept the responsibility – and potential danger – that comes with using a firearm. It’s easy to get overwhelmed with a gun’s safety features and other functions. But all firearms generally use similar designs when it comes to how the trigger and safety work. And there are some important, universal rules that always apply, no matter what type of gun you’re handling or when or where you’re handling it. Follow these firearm safety tips, and you’ll become a confident and responsible marksman.
Obey the Four Big Rules of Gun Safety
1. Always treat a gun as if it’s loaded
You should always check and clear a firearm – remove the magazine and inspect the firing chamber – to make sure it’s unloaded before handling it. But even then, you should treat a firearm as if it’s loaded. This is a redundancy that guarantees you’ll never have a negligent discharge (an accidental pull of the trigger, sending a live round off unintentionally).
2. Always point the muzzle in a safe direction
This rule builds on rule #1. If you keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction, you’ll never have a negligent discharge nor cause any collateral damage or potential injury or death. What is a safe direction? That means, at worst, keeping the muzzle pointed away from any people. When you’re shooting, that means keeping the muzzle always pointed downrange and toward your target. If you’re handling a firearm in a gun store or your home, keep the muzzle pointed at the floor.
3. Keep your finger off the trigger until you’re ready to shoot
You should never touch the trigger on a firearm unless you’re actively shooting at a known target. Some firearms require you to depress the trigger during disassembly, and this should only be done with the muzzle pointed in a safe direction and only after confirming the firearm is unloaded.
4. Know your target and what’s behind it
This rule is incredibly important in a self-defense situation. Always know your target and what’s behind it, lest you unintentionally send a live round into inhabited space. Even at the shooting range or when hunting, confirm there is no chance of collateral damage to people or property before firing at your target.
Always Wear Proper Safety Equipment
A single gunshot is enough to cause immediate and potentially permanent hearing loss. Even a small .22 LR’s sound is loud enough to cause damage to the eardrum. You must always wear proper hearing protection and ballistic eye protection when you’re shooting, even if you’re using a suppressor. For new shooters handling larger calibers and handguns, it’s also good practice to wear a pair of shooting gloves. Gloves help reduce felt recoil, and they’ll protect your hands from slide bite and blisters while you practice getting a good, strong grip.
Familiarize Yourself with Your Firearm
Buying a gun is exciting. You’re exercising a Constitutional right and learning a sport that many consider a part of the American social fabric. Except you shouldn’t just barge into a gun shop, buy a handgun or rifle or shotgun, and then hit the range. It’s critically important you get familiarized with your new firearm’s functions:
- Learn how all safety devices work
- Learn how to load and unload the firearm
- Learn how the bolt, hammer, and trigger function
- Learn how to perform disassembly of the firearm
A sales associate should show you most of these functions at the gun counter before you make a purchase. If you plan on buying a firearm from an online dealer, visit a gun shop and handle the same gun or a similar model to get familiar with your future purchase.
If you’re one of the millions of new gun owners interested in the AR-15 platform, you should consider assembling your rifle instead of simply purchasing one from a retailer. The process is relatively easy, and it provides an opportunity to become familiar with every function of your firearm before you handle it. AR-15 kits include most of the components – you simply need to fabricate or buy the lower receiver from a dealer, since it is the component considered a firearm under federal law. Purchase an 80 lower from 80 Percent Arms to complete the look of your rifle.
When Not Shooting, Lock Your Guns Up
In some states, it is against the law to leave a loaded firearm unsecured in your home. Whether it’s a law in your locale or not, you should act responsibly by locking up your firearms when you’re not carrying or shooting. Nearly a third of all accidental gun deaths occur each year from family members and youths “playing” with guns that they find unsecured. Most hard-sided gun cases come with padlock fixtures or key locks. Small handgun safes and even some long gun safes are relatively affordable.
Attend a Safety and Self-Defense Class
Unfortunately, most gun owners do not receive even an hour of instruction on firearm safety and use – thankfully, though, some states require such classes if you wish to carry a concealed weapon. Even if you’re just interested in firearm ownership for home defense or sport, you should attend at least one professional shooting class. These classes are not expensive – many cost less than $50 and are taught by seasoned NRA instructors or law enforcement – and they provide great tips on local and state gun laws, self-defense tactics and shooting tips you may not learn anywhere else.
Have Children or Family? Teach Firearm Responsibility
Curiosity kills – literally, when it comes to firearms. Remove the stigma and uncertainty as a new gun owner in the family home: Teach your partner and children what a firearm is and set some rules about what not to do with one. Show your new firearm to those in the home in a responsible manner. Explain the danger and consequences of handling it, and then lock it up.