What You Need to Know About Firearm Training
While firearms are perfectly safe when handled with proper care, attention, and education, they can obviously pose a danger to those using them and anyone around them if mishandled.
The reason firearms training is so important for your safety is because most firearms accidents are actually caused by not following basic gun safety rules.
When these basic rules aren’t followed and mistakes happen, serious injury and even death can occur. It’s extremely important that anyone that will handle firearms is properly trained with how to treat, handle, and care for firearms properly.
Four Basic Gun Safety Rules
There are four basic gun safety rules should ensure that you and others around you are always safe when handling firearms. These should not only be things you practice, but should become routine, habit, and ritual any time you handle your gun.
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Treat all guns as if they are always loaded.
Many accidents involving firearm-related injuries and deaths have the same cause: the person didn’t think the firearm was loaded. The fact of the matter is, these are preventable instances. Whenever you have a gun, be aware that they are dangerous and can cause injury.
No matter how sure you think you are that a gun isn’t loaded, it could still be a potential danger and should be treated as such. Never point or play with guns. Instead, always treat guns as if they are always loaded.
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Never point the muzzle towards anything you are not intending to shoot.
Never point – or cover – a target unless you are planning to shoot it. While this may seem extreme, given the nature of a firearm, you should never aim a firearm at anyone you are not willing or intending to kill.
Even if a firearm isn’t loaded or has the safety on, you should never point it at another person unless you are actually intending to fire it.
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Fingers must stay off the trigger until you are aiming at a target and ready to fire.
While all firearms have safety devices in one way or another, the primary safety is you.
Your finger is the true safety.
It’s important that you never put your finger on the trigger until you are already aiming at your target and ready to fire. This way, you’ll never have a misfire occur unless it’s due to a mechanical error. Instead, hold your finger along the frame of your gun until you are aimed and ready to pull the trigger.
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Be sure of your target and anything beyond it.
Proper firearm safety isn’t just about handling the firearm with care, but also being aware of your environment and acting accordingly. When you’re handling and using firearms, make sure that you properly identify your target and are sure of it before firing.
More than just that, you need to be aware of what could be potentially behind the target as well.
Bullets can penetrate materials and travel long distances, so be sure that where you are firing (including the target and the entire area behind) is completely safe.
Rules of the Range
ALWAYS follow the instructions of the Range Safety Officer (RSO). If you’re firing at a range, you need to be aware of the rules of the range and follow what the instructor or person in charge says at all times. They are responsible for the safety of everyone there and whatever they say goes!
Respect and Responsibility
More than anything, proper firearm training will ensure that you understand and appreciate proper respect around weapons and practice responsible treatment and care.
By instilling these basic rules and values about gun ownership and handling, you will ensure that your firearms are as safe as possible, not only for you but everyone around you!
If you’re interested in firearms training, contact us through our online form or give us a call at 858-206-5057
