'treat every gun as a loaded gun' is essentially another version of 'all guns are always loaded'... less confusion is absurd...the ASSumption that all guns are always loaded DEMANDS that i verify for myself the condition of the weapon, whether you just 'checked' it and handed it to me, or whether i stowed it in the safe/cupboard/drawer yesterday...
by simply english semantics, 'unloaded when not in use' allows a casual mind to have irresponsible/lazy wiggle room for an ASSumption that "well, since its not in use, it could/should/must be un-loaded", and more possibility for bad results...
now IF you or yer nra endorsed brethren can demonstrably cite/source valid data that shows a statistical advantage to a passive wording when being instructed of handling of dangerous tools, Id love to see it...but i bet that the only *proof* lies in the nra says so...and that just aint good enuff for me...
at the end of the day, both packages of attitudes towards safe handling of firearms accomplish the same goals, for those who are responsible enuff to live by em...i just fail to see why anyone would militantly endorse a weaker wording that may just cost their kids his/her life...
"Weaker" wording? Precisely the opposite. "Cooper" No. 1 is not helpful to the novice shooter. NRA 1 and 2 actively direct the operator to treat the gun as loaded, regardless of it's condition, without the use of fiction.
NRA 3 directs operators to unload firearms not in their span of control -an element that causes the majority of firearms injury to kids, and the Cooper rules don't address.
"well, since its not in use, it could/should/must be un-loaded", and more possibility for bad results...
Impossible if NRA 1 and 2 are obeyed. "All guns are loaded" is meaningless absent the requirement to safely handle the firearm, it adds nothing.