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Safe gun handling

2K views 3 replies 4 participants last post by  EVL VIII 
#1 ·
This video is hard for me to watch. Coincidently, I think it's a Ruger P series (P-89?) pistol.

http://www.ebaumsworld.com/video/watch/34577

I know many of us here have been handling guns for a long time, and the following may be preaching to the choir, but somehow this guy was either never taught, or it didn't stick. So I'd like to take the opportunity for a safety refresher in hopes that the more often people are exposed to safety concepts, the fewer incidents like the above will happen. Some of the comments suggest the video may be a fake, but regardless it illustrates what not to do.

Many folks who are used to shooting on their own property for years, or at unsupervised ranges find themselves getting talked to frequently about safety when they come to a supervised range.

Being a range officer at one of the clubs where I shoot, I frequently have to talk to folks about unsafe handling. I try not to be a dick about it. They are trying to enjoy shooting, and I don't want to turn them off to that, or their attendance/membership at our club. It's not personal. When it comes to gun safety, exceptions are just not acceptable.

There are 3 basic rules of gun safety that the average person can learn in about 5 minutes. These are from the NRA.

1. ALWAYS</u> 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.

Rule number one - Violated. When finished shooting, you should keep the gun pointed downrange until you either re-holster it, or verify empty and put it in it's case. Turning towards another person and sweeping them with the muzzle like he did would get you a serious talking to at the ranges I go to even if the gun was empty. More than once, and your membership would likely be revoked. When dropping the hammer even with your thumb like he did, you had better be pointing the gun downrange or in a safe direction.

2. ALWAYS</u> 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 your sights are on the target, and you are actually ready to fire, do not touch the trigger. The way guns are designed, it feels very natural to put your finger on the trigger whenever you are holding one. Learning to keep your finger off the trigger until ready to fire is of utmost importance. It becomes second nature rather quickly.

3. ALWAYS</u> keep the gun unloaded until ready to use.

This guy violated the first 2 in a matter of seconds, which is all it takes.

We MUST treat EVERY gun as if it is loaded. ALWAYS.

Whenever you hand a gun to someone to look at it, verify in front of them that it is empty. Open the bolt or cylinder. Break the barrel open on that type of gun. If someone hands you a gun to look at, be it a friend, or store clerk, without first doing this, you should either verify it's unloaded yourself, or hand it back to them and ask them to point it in a safe direction and verify that it's unloaded before handing it to you.

Stay safe, and happy shooting!
 
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