{"id":11110,"date":"2022-09-22T02:10:54","date_gmt":"2022-09-22T02:10:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wideners.com\/blog\/?p=11110"},"modified":"2025-05-26T19:11:23","modified_gmt":"2025-05-26T19:11:23","slug":"gun-safety-rules","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wideners.com\/blog\/gun-safety-rules\/","title":{"rendered":"Gun Safety Rules"},"content":{"rendered":"

Guest Writer: Kenzie Fitzpatrick<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Talking about gun safety rules isn\u2019t riveting.\u00a0 However, it\u2019s your responsibility as a gun owner to prioritize safety. There\u2019s no such thing as being too educated about gun safety or being too cautious around firearms. I handle firearms daily, spending a lot of time at shooting ranges, matches, tradeshows, and other firearm-related events. <\/span><\/p>\n

Unfortunately, I constantly see people being lax about their gun safety discipline. I see them not keeping their finger off the trigger, not checking if the gun is loaded, and not giving firearms the respect they deserve.\u00a0<\/span>Some of the worst offenders of poor firearm safety are long-time gun owners who can\u2019t check their egos at the door. <\/span><\/p>\n

Every gun owner can be more safety-conscious, and reviewing firearm safety rules and recommendations is never wrong. While the first four rules of firearm safety<\/a> are the <\/span>standard within the industry and should be put into practice every time you pick up a gun, there are a few other recommendations that\u2019ll make you a professional at gun safety. Let’s take a look at these gun safety rules below:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Ten Gun Safety Rules<\/h2>\n
\"a

Always treat all guns as if they are loaded. Keep your finger off the trigger and the muzzle pointed in a safe direction.<\/p><\/div>\n

1. Treat All Guns As If They\u2019re Loaded<\/strong><\/h3>\n

If someone hands you a gun, you and only you are responsible for checking if that gun is unloaded. Always check for yourself even if someone gives you a gun and tells you it\u2019s empty. I don\u2019t care if Jerry Miculek<\/a> himself handed you a pistol and told you it was clear; you always check the gun yourself.<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Always Keep Your Muzzle Pointed In A Safe Direction<\/strong><\/h3>\n

While most of us have heard this gun safety rule countless times, have you thought about this with fake guns, plastic squirt guns, and other weapons? Building habits happens quickly, and one you can create for yourself without realizing it is pointing fake guns or weapons at people. This can easily carry over to when you have a real firearm in your hand. This scenario is especially common with children who don\u2019t understand the difference between real and fake guns.<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Keep Your Finger Off The Trigger Until You\u2019re Ready To Shoot<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The pressure needed to pull a trigger can be anywhere from a few ounces to 13 pounds for a revolver. No gun will fire without someone pulling the trigger, whether you have a shotgun, rifle, or pistol. The last line of defense to keep a firearm from going off when you don\u2019t want it to is keeping your finger off the trigger until you\u2019re ready to fire. This rule is the most important in my mind.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Even if you\u2019re not following rules 1 and 2, rule number 3 should keep you from doing something you didn\u2019t mean to do. (Please follow all the rules, but keeping your finger off the trigger until you\u2019re ready to shoot at your intended target is the best way to prevent a firearm incident.)<\/span><\/p>\n

4. Know Your Target & What\u2019s Beyond It<\/strong><\/h3>\n

From hunting to recreational shooting, you should always know what\u2019s behind your target and what trajectory your bullet will take if you miss the mark. When hunting (especially on public land), you need to know where fellow hunters have set up, so you\u2019re not shooting toward another blind or stand. Furthermore, if you want to kill only a buck, but a doe is in your line of fire, you shouldn\u2019t take the shot until the doe is out of the way.<\/span><\/p>\n

On many ranges, shooting bays are built on both sides of a berm, meaning you\u2019re shooting directly into the berm the person on the other side is shooting at. Most people don\u2019t know that ammunition can <\/span>\u201cskip\u201d over a berm<\/span><\/a> if you hit too low. This issue occurs when people set up their targets at the wrong height. Bullets then penetrate the target and keep moving. In this scenario, knowing what\u2019s beyond your target and how high you should set it to ensure your bullets can\u2019t skip over the berm is essential.<\/span><\/p>\n

5. Always Wear Eye & Ear Protection When Shooting\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n

While gun safety is typically about how to keep <\/span>others <\/span><\/i>safe, this rule will protect <\/span>your <\/span><\/i>eyes and ears. You only get one set of eyes and one set of ears in your lifetime. Why take the chance of losing your hearing or sight? At the most basic level, you should have some kind of shooting decibel-rated hearing protection and a pair of glasses to protect your eyes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It doesn\u2019t matter if you are actively shooting or not\u2013always wear both. Ricochets from steel targets fly further than you think, and many friends and I have gotten hit with shrapnel from three bays over. One shot makes enough sound to damage your hearing permanently. I recommend shooting-specific ear protection with the highest decibel rating you can afford and wrap-around eye protection that is <\/span>ANSI certified<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

6. Know Your Gun Inside & Out<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\"a

If you own a gun, you should know how to disassemble and assemble it safely, and perform regular maintenance.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

All gun owners should know how to disassemble and assemble the firearms they own without assistance. Starting out, watch as many YouTube videos as necessary and ask for help from those who know how to strip the guns you own.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Once you understand how your gun comes apart, learn more about how it functions. Is it single action only? A striker-fired weapon? A lever action? A break action? Learn how to clean the magazines for the gun. Watch videos about how to replace worn parts on your own. The more knowledgeable you are about your weapons, the better. If you can explain to someone else how your gun works, you have successfully learned about your firearm.<\/span><\/p>\n

7. Maintain Your Firearm<\/strong><\/h3>\n

A firearm is a tool. Just like any device or machine you own, it needs regular maintenance. You alone are responsible for the condition of your firearm. Be sure to clean the gun correctly and often. Always keep your weapons lubricated and replace worn parts as needed. If a gun gets wet or you\u2019re storing it long-term, make sure they\u2019re dry and store it in a dry environment. Nothing kills firearms faster than rust. Part of gun safety is ensuring your weapon is safe and can function correctly, so no one gets hurt while you\u2019re shooting.<\/span><\/p>\n

8. Learn How To Clear Common Malfunctions<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Malfunctions are part of firearm ownership. If you rarely shoot, you may not encounter all of the varieties, but you\u2019ll surely come across one or two. There\u2019s no guarantee that you\u2019ll always have someone with you to help, so I strongly encourage every gun owner to learn how to clear malfunctions on their own. Malfunctions can be dangerous, especially if you ignore gun safety rules while clearing malfunctions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Stovepipes, double-feeds, and light primer strikes can all cause confusion and are some of the most common issues you may encounter. A more serious problem is getting a squib load you must hammer out using a squib rod. Watch videos on the most common firearms malfunctions and how to clear them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

9. Check Your Firearms\u2019 Compatibility With Ammunition<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Especially now, you should know what ammunition your firearm is rated for. From hollow points<\/a> to full metal jackets<\/a>, some guns will not function or fire some ammunition, while others can\u2019t handle the extra pressure of others. Always read your manual to see what the weapon can fire, especially +P and +P+ ammunition. Bullet grain weight and ammunition velocity can also affect a firearm\u2019s accuracy and felt recoil. Learn what ammo works best in your gun and what its limits are.<\/span><\/p>\n

10. Take A Firearms Class<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The best thing you can do to bolster your gun safety knowledge is to take a firearms class. Education is key to safe gun handling, whether it\u2019s a beginner or advanced course. Every gun owner should at least take an introductory firearms course. Every gun owner who chooses to carry a gun daily should take defensive firearm training classes, a firearms class incorporating movement, and a self-defense course that doesn\u2019t use a firearm. You should do this continuously throughout your life as a gun owner.<\/span><\/p>\n

Gun Safety Rules Are For Everyone<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"a

Learn the gun safety rules outlined in this article, develop good habits, and teach others.<\/p><\/div>\n

Gun safety is everyone\u2019s responsibility. It\u2019s not just the purview of the range owner or officer but of every person on the range. If you see someone breaking a safety rule, don\u2019t be afraid to say something. Especially if their unsafe actions could hurt themselves or another person. Everyone wants to have a great experience at the gun range, let’s all agree to be responsible gun owners and follow the rules!<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Guest Writer: Kenzie Fitzpatrick Talking about gun safety rules isn\u2019t riveting.\u00a0 However, it\u2019s your responsibility as a gun owner to prioritize safety. There\u2019s no such thing as being too educated about gun safety or being too cautious around firearms. I handle firearms daily, spending a lot of time at shooting ranges, matches, tradeshows, and other […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":11124,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[395],"tags":[1243,1245,1246,933,599,1242,431,1244],"class_list":["post-11110","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-self-defense","tag-firearm-safety","tag-firearms-class","tag-firearms-training","tag-gun-rules","tag-gun-safety","tag-gun-safety-rules","tag-range-safety-officer","tag-responsibility"],"yoast_head":"\nGun Safety Rules - Wideners Shooting, Hunting & Gun Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Gun safety rules should be a priority for every gun owner. 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