The Four Golden Rules of Firearms Safety

AC ^ | Feb 11, 2010 | Dan S. Defense

[ArrogantBustard]

Guns are dangerous tools. They can save lives and they can destroy them. When you take on the responsibility to handle a firearm, you must take it seriously and you must educate yourself, on all that it takes to be a safe and responsible gun owner. You may be surprised to learn that there are only four basic golden rules to gun safety. If you follow these rules—at all times—you will be safe and so will the people around you. Please realize that any gun owner who's foolish enough to disobey these golden rules, by negligence or stupidity, makes us all look bad. If you know someone who's new to firearm ownership, or if you know an "expert" who thinks he or she no longer needs to follow these rules, please send them this link. I hate to sound melodramatic, but it will probably save lives.

The four golden rules were given to us by the late Col. Jeff Cooper. To many, as to me, Mr. Cooper is the father of the modern pistol craft. If you take the time to read his books (e.g. To Ride, Shoot Straight and Speak the Truth) , you'll find that he is much more than that but, in this context, we'll look at the knowledge he condensed and packaged for us.

The four golden rules to firearm safety:

1. All guns are always loaded.

2. Never let the muzzle cover anything you are not willing to destroy.

3. Keep your finger off the trigger till your sights are on the target.

4. Identify your target, and what is behind it. Never shoot at shadows and/or noises.

[Hardastarboard]

I once put a snap cap from my pocket into a gun. The only issue was that I had forgotten that I put two live rounds into that same pocket. You can guess what happened next.

Even though the gun was "unloaded" in my mind, it went off. Lesson learned. All guns are ALWAYS loaded. Period.

[fightinJAG]

Let's cross-link to Dan's other article:

My Favorite Shooting Technique Will Teach You How to Shoot Your Handgun More Accurately

[OKSooner]

Fifth Rule of Gun Safety:

Don't run off downrange at the worst possible moment without checking with your rangemaster when the OSU - looking dudes you're sharing the range with are just getting back from having been downrange. (Guaranteed, someone of them is guaranteed to pick up a rifle and point it downrange at you and your kid.)

Sixth Rule of Gun Safety:

If you've ever broken rule number five, or plan on breaking rule number five in the future, (especially after having had the talk about who is taking whom shooting in front of witnesses), don't ever ask OKSooner to take you shooting again.

EV-ER.

(Rule number seven: No exemption for either of the above based on race or gender, or for clergy...)

[MortMan]

That advice comes from a Kansas licensed firearm dealer/licensed concealed carry class instructor/police officer.

Further, it would be foolish to argue that a normal individual who has just shot another person doesn’t suffer immediate physiological distress. Even police officers have to be evaluated afterward - and they are trained for the eventuality.

Finally, “I think I may be having a heart attack” is an unimpeachable statement, legally, unless you deliberately recant your assertion. “I want my lawyer” is a more impeachable statement - it can be (and has been) argued that calling for a lawyer before even talking to police is evidence of a guilty conscience.

However - everyone needs to understand the vagaries of their own state’s laws, and to use those laws as best they can to shield themselves in the unfortunate event a shooting becomes necessary.

I’m pretty certain we agree on that last point! LOL

[Smokin' Joe]

After nearly half a century of following those basic ideas (not sure they were "rules" when my dad and granddad taught them to me), I have yet to shoot anything I did not intend to.

Works for me.

Not loading your firearm until it is ready for use is a conundrum. It isn't ready until loaded.

[ArrogantBustard]

Rule Two: Never let your muzzle cover anything you're not willing to destroy.

Hmmmm ... Hey, if he's willing to destroy his own head, who am I to argue with him?

Rule Three: Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on target ... so ... his head is his target. Fascinating.

Rule Four: Know your target and what is beyond it. Now, we have a problem ... there might be an innocent person to his left next to the firing line ... He's almost certainly violating Rule Four.

[xsrdx]

The NRA rules.

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.

[Uri’el-2012]

Col Cooper's rules have value in a "free-fire zone"
however in any other place they are patently absurd
as 99.9% of all guns are unloaded.

I am quite familiar with Col. Cooper's rules.

They have value for dogfaces and grunts.
Which is where they were developed during WWII.

However they have proven to be unsafe.

Police Officer Safety Training (POST) train with Cooper rules.
The NRA Training Department has developed Police Firearms training
based on NRA Safety rules in hope of reducing NDs by LEOs

Many years ago the NRA used the Cooper rules;
His rules proved to be unsafe as NDs did not decrease,
the NRA training dept spent years developing safer rules.

Since the introduction of the new rules NDs among
those trained with the new rules have dramatically decreased

They are much safer because:

Why do I point the gun in a safe direction?
Because until I inspect the chamber, I assume it is loaded.

Why do I keep my finger off the trigger?
Because I assume that it is loaded until I inspect the chamber.

I don't load a gun until I plan to use it.

I train and certify NRA Certified Instructors in all disciplines
including Personal Protection both in and outside the Home.

I'm a Chief Range Safety Officer training NRA Certified Range Safety Officers
and I also teach the development of Standard Operating Procedures for the operation of
both indoor and outdoor ranges in all disciplines.

Here are the rules which are safer than Cooper rules:

Always keep the gun pointed in a safe direction

Always keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot

Always keep the gun unloaded until ready to use

When you plan to shoot or store , the following rules come into effect:

NRA Eight Rules for Using or Storing A Gun

1. Know your target and what is beyond.

2. Be sure the gun is safe to operate.

3. Know how to use the gun safely.

4. Use only the correct ammunition for your gun.

5. Wear eye and ear protection.

6. NEVER use alcohol or drugs before or while shooting.

7. Store guns so they are NOT accessible to unauthorized persons.

8. Be aware that certain types of guns and many shooting activities require additional safety precautions.

There are many more training rules for both concealed and open carry.

However the three fundamental rules apply in all circumstances.

I hope that I have made it very clear why Cooper rules have failed to protect the shooter.

If you rely only on the Cooper rules you have placed yourself at greater risk.

[I see my hands]

You're right, we have agreement only on your last point.

Let's hope we never have occasion to find out which approach is more prudent.

[oyez]

My Grandfather lectured me endlessly about gun safety and basically practiced what he preached.

One day I drooped by to see him. He had earlier punched a twelve gage shot pattern in his den ceiling. My lesson was precautions don't always prevent a mishap, but they do limit injury.

[ArrogantBustard]

Col Cooper's rules have value in a "free-fire zone" however in any other place they are patently absurd as 99.9% of all guns are unloaded.

First time I've EVER seen you recognize any value in Cooper's rules.

It's a start.

For those of us who carry pistols as a piece of clothing, Cooper's rules make a whole lot more sense than the NRA rules.

However they have proven to be unsafe.

PROVE it. You're making the claim, you back it up. Back it up with facts, not bluster.

DISmissed!!!!

[xsrdx]

Not loading your firearm until it is ready for use is a conundrum. It isn't ready until loaded.

The NRA point is that guns not in active use should be verified unloaded.

"All guns are always loaded" is clearly not true - while they should always be approached with that assumption, they shouldn't BE loaded unless they NEED to be loaded.

[Uri’el-2012]

What are your credentials for blathering
unsafe procedures for the operation of firearms?

[ArrogantBustard]

Is that your idea of proof?

I told you to bring proof, not blather.

[Uri’el-2012]

Is that your idea of proof?

I told you to bring proof, not blather.

Why do you think the NRA rejected his rules?

Because they are UNSAFE !!!

[ArrogantBustard]

"All guns are always loaded" is clearly not true

OTOH, it's a mentality which demands respect for any gun, regardless of its believed condition of loadedness or unloadedness.

Suppose you were to ask whether my XX-XX (rifle) is, right this instant, loaded or not. Fact of the matter is, I DON'T KNOW. It's probably locked in the safe (that's what I remember last doing with it) and its chamber is probably clear (I remember doing that before I locked the safe). If I need to use it, I will be sure to grab some appropriate ammo along with the rifle itself. BUT, when I open the safe and take it out, I will "assume" that it is loaded and check to be sure.

Why?

Because all guns are always loaded.

It's not just a rule, it's a way of life.

IMHO.

[ArrogantBustard]

I told you to bring proof, not blather.

[Georgia Girl 2]

“5. Firearms should not be handled after uttering the phrase, “Hold muh beer.”

6. Never utilize the over the head gangsta slant at a
distance of more than 5 feet.

[Uri’el-2012]

I told you to bring proof, not blather.

I can only assume that you are a blowhard
who fawns over Col Cooper
with no credentials in firearms.

[kevkrom]

Based on some conversations with firearm newbies, the first rule (1. All guns are always loaded) is the only one that seems to require a bit more thought than the rest. If taken literally, things like cleaning and dry-fire practice would be off limits. And who wants to assume that all your guns are loaded when you need one to deal with a threat? The idea behind this rule is that one should use the same safe handling practices whether the gun is known to be loaded or not.

I've actually always heard this rule presented as "all guns are always loaded, unless proven otherwise". That gets over the ambiguity regarding cleaning, et. al.