Gun Safety is Everyone's Responsibility!
Stillwater Firearms Association is dedicated to teaching
and promoting the safe use of firearms.
In recent history, many blame the gun for the ills of society, when the
gun is only a tool. A gun left alone is
only an inanimate object and harmless.
What makes a gun dangerous is an evil or ignorant person
in control of the gun.
We alone cannot fix society's problems. But we can endeavor to educate.
Firearms safety is a way of thinking and a way of
behaving; indeed, firearms safety is a way of life. Guns are tools; used properly, guns are useful and enjoyable
tools.
These four rules do two things. First, they will prevent you from having an accident. Second,
they will prevent you from hurting anyone or anything if you make a mistake and
have an accidental discharge.
Rule # 1: All Guns Are Always Loaded
All guns are always loaded. ALWAYS!
What this rule means is simply this: You treat every gun as if it's loaded, until
you have checked it yourself, and verified what condition it is in. Assume every gun is loaded when you first
come in contact with it. Whether it's
yours or mine, or anyone else's, doesn't matter. It's loaded until you've
checked it yourself. Don't rely on
anyone's word; check it yourself.
Understand that when a gun is in your hand, you are
responsible for it. If you do something
stupid and hurt someone with it, you will be held responsible.
ALL GUNS ARE ALWAYS LOADED! Every time you pick up your gun, even if it's only been a few
minutes since you had it, check it again.
Your cries of "I thought it was unloaded!!"
won't help after a negligent round is fired. CHECK IT!
IF YOU DON'T KNOW HOW IT WORKS, leave it alone and summon
a knowledgeable person to assist.
Rule # 2: Never let your muzzle cover anything that you are not willing to
kill.
Never let your muzzle cover anything that you are not willing to kill or destroy. You must always be aware of where your gun is pointed. Never let it point at anyone or anything that you don't want to shoot.
This is the rule that saves lives. If your gun is never pointed in an unsafe
direction, then no one can be harmed by it, even if you do something
stupid. You MUST exercise due care when
handling a gun. Even if you know the
gun is empty, don't let it point at anyone.
Rule # 3: Keep Your Finger Off the Trigger & Out of the Trigger Guard
Always.
Simple and effective.
Keep your finger off the trigger and out of the trigger guard until your
sights are on target, and you have made the conscious decision to shoot.
Many modern firearms have a number of safeties that
absolutely prevent the gun from going off unless the trigger is pulled. If your finger is not on the trigger, the
gun cannot go off. The modern firearm
is an extraordinarily safe implement when used properly.
The television is responsible for most of the true
accidents today. When is the last time you saw a gun in someone's hand on TV,
and their finger was not on the trigger? Never? Start looking for that and
you'll be surprised.
The problem here lies in the primitive brain and the self
defense reaction. When startled, the primitive response is to tighten up every
muscle in the body, including the trigger finger. If it's on a trigger, it gets
pulled. If it's out of the trigger guard, along the frame, it does not...
Without providing graphic examples, please believe me. If
you train yourself to keep your finger away from the trigger, except when you
want a bang, then nothing bad can happen to you.
Rule # 4: Be Sure Of Your Target And What's Beyond It.
Sounds simple, right?
This is about responsibility.
The hand that holds the gun is responsible for whatever is done by that
gun. If you launch a bullet, you are
responsible for it, no matter where it lands.
Do you know what your gun is capable of? Do you know how far your bullet can
travel? What it can penetrate?
Your name is on every bullet in your gun, along with a
list of everything you own, and everything you ever will own. That is what you put at risk, along with
your freedom, and perhaps even your life, when you hold a gun.
You must know where your shot will go when you fire. You
must know what it might hit if you miss your intended target. And you must know what it can go through,
and still have enough energy to kill.
Sheetrock walls are no obstacle to a bullet. Neither is glass, or floors
or most common man made objects.
Before you fire, look over the intended path
carefully. If it's not safe to shoot
that way, don't. If you have to shoot,
and it's not safe to miss, then you better not miss. Find a way to win. Change
the background by moving, or change the angle by kneeling.