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Even though there is no magazine in the firearm in the above photo, this person is still violating several rules of firearm safety. That firearm may still be loaded as there could be a round in the chamber, and he is pointing it at something that - one would think - he considers important and that he most likely does not wish to destroy.
Firearms Safety is a very important topic. You hear about it all the time. There are entire bunches of rules that cover gun safety. The NRA has a list. The BSA has a list. Most firearm manufacturers have their own lists they ship with every gun.
When I start a class, I like to ask the following question.
"Is there anyone in this class named God? Is there anyone in here that is truly a Jedi Knight?"
I don't ask it in a sacreligious way, but I ask it to make a point. The answer - of course - is always "no". That leads to the following fundamental facts...
YOU CAN NOT CALL A BULLET BACK ONCE IT HAS BEEN FIRED.
YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR EVERY PROJECTILE THAT LEAVES YOUR FIREARM.
YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR WHATEVER IT HITS AND WHATEVER DAMAGE IT DOES.
Think about it. Once you pull the trigger - barring an Act of God - that bullet will travel until it hits something. You can not stop it. You are responsible for what it hits and whatever damage it does. It's simple.
When you keep that last thing in mind, all of the other rules make sense and it becomes much easier to remember them because you know WHY they are so important.
Recently, there was a lawsuit and an attempt by a gunshot victim to purchase a firearms manufacturer in order to put them out of business. The victim was a minor, and his babysitter heard a noise. The babysitter knew there was a gun in the home and went and got it. He called the parents, and over the phone the mother told the babysitter to unload the firearm. Keep in mind the babysitter had never handled this firearm and didn't know how to operate it.
While unloading the firearm, the victim was shot.
Now, if the babysitter had kept the above in mind, they would not have violated all of the other rules of gun safety.
ACCOUNTABILITY and RESPONSIBILITY are both keys here.
Folks, a gun - even loaded - can sit on a tabletop until the metal rusts away and never shoot anyone. The problem here is that the individual handling the firearm neglected EVERY rule of gun safety. The victim did not understand that. They wanted to blame the manufacturer, the NRA, and everyone else but the persons at fault - the babysistter and the mother.
This idiot didn't get it. It's not the fault of the NRA, it's not the fault of the manufacturer, it's the fault of the individual.
Take these three most basic rules of firearm safety for example...
TREAT EVERY FIREARM AS IF IT IS LOADED
NEVER ALLOW THE MUZZLE TO POINT AT ANYTHING YOU ARE NOT WILLING TO DESTROY
KEEP YOUR FINGER OFF OF THE TRIGGER UNTIL THE FIREARM IS POINTED AT A TARGET YOU ARE PREPARED TO SHOOT
This idiot babysitter failed all three of these. The trigger DID NOT pull itself. The individual holding the gun pulled the trigger in a NEGLIGENT manner. This was not an AD [Accidental Discharge]. This was an ND [Negligent Discharge]. The babysitter had the gun pointing at the victim. The babysitter failed to treat the firearm as if it was loaded (which it was). They failed to keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction. They failed to keep their finger off of the trigger until ready to fire.
The manufacturer of the firearm did not make him disobey the basic rules of firearm safety. The NRA did not make him disobey the basic rules of firearm safety. HE DID IT HIMSELF.
Going after the manufacturer is a good way to try to get a ton of money, but did NOTHING to address the problem. Taking guns out of the hands of the public does nothing to address the problem. Assuming that LE are the only ones qualified to handle firearms is not the solution.
Teaching and understanding firearm safety will correct the problem.
Here is a link to a video I recently received. Note the phrase "I am the only one in this room professional enough to handle this GLOCK 40". Then note what happens next. Can you count how many things go wrong in this situation? Watch the whole thing. I lost count.
Keep in mind that this is a DEA agent - a "professional". In a recent GLOCK factory training course I attended, this guy was a hot topic. The general consensus from the LEO's in attandance - "Too bad he didn't hit the femoral and end it right there". He is an embarassment to LE everywhere.
I am going to present here a number of rules sets as provided by their suppliers. You will see the common themes boil down to what you have read above.
The fundamental NRA rules for safe gun handling are:
1. 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 on different circumstances.
2. Always keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot.
When holding a gun, rest your finger on the trigger guard or along the side of the gun. Until you are actually ready to fire, do not touch the trigger.
3. Always keep the gun unloaded until ready to use.
Whenever you pick up a gun, immediately engage the safety device if possible, and, if the gun has a magazine, remove it before opening the action and looking into the chamber(s) which should be clear of ammunition. If you do not know how to open the action or inspect the chamber(s), leave the gun alone and get help from someone who does.
When using or storing a gun, always follow these NRA rules:
Know your target and what is beyond it.
Be absolutely sure you have identified your target beyond any doubt. Equally important, be aware of the area beyond your target. This means observing your prospective area of fire before you shoot. Never fire in a direction in which there are people or any other potential for mishap. Think first. Shoot second.
Know how to use the gun safely.
Before handling a gun, learn how it operates. Know its basic parts, how to safely open and close the action and remove any ammunition from the gun or magazine. Remember, a gun's mechanical safety device is never foolproof. Nothing can ever replace safe gun handling.
Be sure the gun is safe to operate.
Just like other tools, guns need regular maintenance to remain operable. Regular cleaning and proper storage are a part of the gun's general upkeep. If there is any question concerning a gun's ability to function, a knowledgeable gunsmith should look at it.
Use only the correct ammunition for your gun.
Only BBs, pellets, cartridges or shells designed for a particular gun can be fired safely in that gun. Most guns have the ammunition type stamped on the barrel. Ammunition can be identified by information printed on the box and sometimes stamped on the cartridge. Do not shoot the gun unless you know you have the proper ammunition.
Wear eye and ear protection as appropriate.
Guns are loud and the noise can cause hearing damage. They can also emit debris and hot gas that could cause eye injury. For these reasons, shooting glasses and hearing protectors should be worn by shooters and spectators.
Never use alcohol or over-the-counter, prescription or other drugs before or while shooting.
Alcohol, as well as any other substance likely to impair normal mental or physical bodily functions, must not be used before or while handling or shooting guns.
Store guns so they are not accessible to unauthorized persons.
Many factors must be considered when deciding where and how to store guns. A person's particular situation will be a major part of the consideration. Dozens of gun storage devices, as well as locking devices that attach directly to the gun, are available. However, mechanical locking devices, like the mechanical safeties built into guns, can fail and should not be used as a substitute for safe gun handling and the observance of all gun safety rules.
Firearms safety is up to you !
1) Handle all firearms as if they were loaded!
Never forget that a gun has the potential to produce serious injury or death in a single instant of carelessness. Make safe gun handling a habit to be followed at all times. After you determine that a gun is unloaded, continue to handle it as though it were loaded.
2) Always keep your firearm pointed in a safe direction!
In selecting a safe direction, you must also take into consideration that a bullet can ricochet or glance off any object it strikes, and that bullets can penetrate walls, ceilings, floors and windows.
Remember: You should never point a gun (whether loaded or unloaded) at another person or at yourself.
3) Keep your finger out of the gun's trigger guard and off the trigger until you have aligned the guns sights on a safe target and you have made the decision to fire!
By keeping your finger completely outside the trigger guard until you are aimed at the target, you guarantee that any shots you fire will go safely in the direction of your intended target.
4) Always be certain that your target and the surrounding area are safe before firing!
Remember that a bullet can travel as much as several miles, so you should be certain of what your bullet could strike before you pull the trigger. Never fire at a movement, a noise, a flash of color or a rustling bush without positively identifying your intended target.
5) Whenever you handle a firearm, the first thing you should do (while keeping it pointed in a safe direction with your finger outside the trigger guard) is to open the action to determine whether or not the firearm is loaded!
If you do not know the proper way to open the action of a particular firearm - do not handle it. Instead, consult the owner's manual, your local gun dealer or a more knowledgeable shooter. Do not experiment
6) Thoroughly read the instruction manual supplied with your firearm!
Never use any firearm unless you completely understand its operation and safety features. If you do not have an instruction manual, contact either the retail store where you purchased your gun or the manufacturer directly and request that one be furnished to you.
7) Before firing your weapon, you should routinely make sure that your firearm is in good working order and that the barrel is clear of dirt and obstructions!
Any obstruction that prevents the bullet from moving easily down the barrel can cause pressure to build up in the weapon. A small bit of mud, gun grease, excess lubricating oil or rust can cause pressure to build up to the point where the barrel bulges or bursts upon firing, resulting in a damaged gun and serious bodily injury to the shooter or those around him.
8) Only use ammunition recommended by the firearm manufacturer, and always be certain that the ammunition matches the caliber of your gun!
Most modern firearms have their caliber designation stamped into the barrel (for example, "9x19" or ".45 Auto") Your box of ammunition should bear the exact same designation. Just because a cartridge fits into your gun does not mean it is safe to fire. Firearms are designed, manufactured and tested to standards based on factory loaded ammunition. Hand-loaded or reloaded ammunition deviating from factory specifications should not be used. Use only the correct ammunition for your firearm. Attempting to fire even a single improper bullet can destroy your gun and cause serious personal injury or death.
9) Quality ear and eye protection should always be worn when shooting or observing!
Exposure to the noise of gunfire can permanently damage your hearing if protection is not worn. Shooting glasses, preferably with side panels, help to guard against eye injuries from ejected cases and the splashback of peebles and fragments from the backstop.
Wearing eye protection when disassembling and cleaning your gun will also prevent eye injuries from loosened springs or other parts, as well as from aerosol solvents and cleaning agents.
10) Never use firearms while under the influence of drugs or alcohol!
Handling and using a firearm requires your full and continuous attention, alertness and unimpaired judgment. Avoid handling firearms while taking prescription medicines which can make you draw drowsy, slow your reflexes and impair your normal senses or judgement.
11) All firearms should be stored unloaded and secure in a safe storage case, inaccessible to children and untrained adults
12) The transportation of firearms is regulated by laws. Always transport your firearm in a safe, unloaded condition and in accordance with applicable laws.
Remember - no set of rules can cover all possible situations. The safe and rational use of a firearm depends on the common sense and proper training of the user. Always follow safety rules and think before using any firearm
FIREARM SAFETY DEPENDS ON YOU !
As you can see, the rules boil down to keeping the firearm pointed in a safe direction, treat it as if it was always loaded, and finger off of the trigger until ready to fire.
With kids and guns - in my opinion - the key is familiarity. You need to take away the mystique.
You also need to tell them why. You need to be a good example.
Kids hear that "guns are bad and do not touch them" in school and on TV - even in Church sometimes. While this is good advice for young kids, people using those statements rarely explain WHY. "Because guns kill" is sometimes spoken, but I have heard the more common "Because I Say So" more frequently. Neither is accurate.
Guns do NOT just jump off of the table and kill.
To a child - "Because I say so" is just like saying "I dare you".
Around me, the kids understand the following... We have guns to protect us from bad people like robbers, and because the Founding Fathers knew we would need them. Who are the Founding Fathers? History lesson follows! At a young age, they are told about guns using the Eddie Eagle principles from the NRA. It IS important that they do not touch your firearms - or any other guns - when you are not there.
But if you take away the mystery surrounding guns by letting them see and touch when you ARE there, they are less likely to go looking for them when you are not there. If the gun is not a mystery, then it is not as attractive.
Sometimes a demonstration of the power of the gun at the shooting range can show them what it can do and - here is the important part - WHY it is important that they only touch it with your permission when you are there. "Because I said so" is like saying "I dare you". Show and tell them WHY. You might be surprised at what they can understand.
Hearing the loud noise and seeing the water jug explode make an impression that "Because I Said So" never will.
Tell them that if the gun is ever shot at something, that is what it will do. "It doesn't matter if it is mom, dad, brother, sister, or friends. You don't want that to happen to any of them do you? So we always use the guns safely. That's why it is important that we do it together."
As for familiarity, if they see me taking off a shoulder holster daily from the time they are born, it becomes second nature to them. They are curious, but it is more like seeing you with your glasses than with some magic, scary thing. It gives them familiarity with being around guns. They see you handle them safely. It helps to remove the mystique.
At the appropriate age, firearms introductions start with a .177 BB rifle with iron sights. A scope is then added later. Shooting at stacks of cans is a great way to start. "If you only pump it a couple of times and shoot for the top of the can, the can will fall over. If you pump it more and hit the middle, the BB will go through".
.22 rimfire rifles are next, then .177 BB handguns once they can understand the principles of never sweepng non-targets with the muzzle, etc.
Starting in this manner, they never learn to flinch, so it isn't initially a problem before they shoot the big stuff.
That's my take on that subject.
There is a bit of a disturbing trend appearing. It is not uncommon to go to a visit with a pediatrician and have them ask if you have guns in your home. If you answer yes, you will most likely be told that you shouldn't, and that you are more likely to be killed, etc. This is the party line of the American Medical Association. If I am asked, I simply don't answer.
To be honest, having a working involvement with Homeland Security I get a bit worried when someone starts asking too many questions about family defensive preparations.
As for what to tell children to say when someone asks if we have guns in our house - ANYONE - including friends, friends parents, teachers, or Church people:
If anyone asks if we have guns in our house, the children will answer "I don't know".
Yes, it is a lie, but sometimes even good people do bad things. One of them might decide they want our guns and come try to steal them when we are not here. We don't want to tempt them. There are also some bad people out there that want to know if we have guns so they know if it would be easy to hurt us.
Kids know that we just tell them "I don't know". If they keep asking, tell them you don't know, but that they can ask me. If they want to talk to me, I will be more than happy to find out why they are asking, and invite them to learn about firearms and firearms safety - or see if they have more hostile intentions.
-- James Bell Jr. - JeepGunner.com