The 4 Universal Gun Safety Rules, Plus 13 More You Should Follow
Gun Safety Rules 101
Protecting myself and those I care about is what first interested me about firearms.
Given my goal of being more safe in more situations, it'd be ironic—and even very silly
—of me to not take gun safety incredibly seriously.
Regardless of what led to your involvement with firearms, whether you came from a
similar place as me or not, following gun safety rules is a necessity.
In this guide, I'll be covering the 4 universal gun safety rule and explaining the
importance of each. I'll then go on to add a number of additional rules I've picked up in
my life that I think everyone else can benefit from.
The 4 Rules of Gun Safety
If you've ever been to a gun range, chances are you've seen these rules plastered on
the wall somewhere or been required to watch instruction explaining them.
The 4 universal rules of gun safety are:
1. Treat all guns as if they are always loaded.
1. Never let the muzzle point at anything that you are not willing to destroy.
3. Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on target and you have made the
decision to shoot.
4. Be sure of your target and what is behind it.
You should ALWAYS follow every single one of these rules, but I want to touch on each
individually and explain how these rules can help protect you even if you forget to do
another one of them. In the (hopefully) unlikely event you catch yourself breaking one of
these rules, be sure to make a mental note of it so you can avoid doing so in the future.
1) Treat all guns as if they are always loaded.
Rules like this may seem like common sense. Shockingly, not everyone intuits things
like not pointing a gun at themselves or their friends. "Treating all guns as if they are
always loaded" is largely intended to ensure you follow the other 3 gun safety rules, no
matter the status of the weapon. If you follow our additional rules, you should always
know whether your gun is loaded or not. With that being said, people are forgetful and
crazy accidents happen; so you should still treat every firearm as if it is loaded, as it
actually could be. I'd even argue that many seasoned gun owners can become more
careless than newbies about ensuring their guns are cleared after use.
2) Never let the muzzle point at anything you are not willing to destroy.
Every year, people shoot themselves or others unintentionally, though thankfully these
statistics have steady been trending downward. Aside from "freak accidents" like
ricochets (where in all likelihood the shooter probably didn't follow the next two safety
rules), this means they probably broke the 2nd rule of gun safety. I don't think I need to
go into much explanation on how ANY gun can kill someone shot by it or damage
anything it comes into contact with. While you should always also follow Rule 3, you
should never assume that you or someone else will keep their finger off the trigger.
Even if you/they do, you don't want to be a part of an incredibly unlikely gun malfunction
that leads to something or someone unintentionally getting shot.
3) Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on target and you have
made the decision to shoot.
By this point you're probably starting to notice how these rules work together, potentially
avoiding a disaster if you break another one of them. DO NOT EVER point a gun at
something you don't want to destroy, but if you mistakenly do, and your finger is off the
trigger, you're less likely to shoot that thing. Trigger discipline, as it's known, is
incredibly important to make a habit of. It's incredibly important in recreational shooting
and also very important in a high-pressure defensive situation. Just because you draw
your firearm for self-Defense, does not necessarily mean you want to shoot.
4) Be sure of your target and what is behind it
This is another rule that applies to recreational shooting and defensive situations. You
might have also heard it as "always know your backstop". Even if you're shooting a .22
pistol at an AR500 steel target, you might miss. When shooting recreationally, you
should always have a backstop behind your targets to stop any missed shots or shots
that penetrate your targets. If you're shooting at a private or public shooting range and
follow rule 3, you should be safe. In self-defense situations, this rule can be more
difficult to assess and follow on the fly. It's important to identify your target, be sure that
you want to take a shot, and know what lies behind your target. Even if you hit your
target, an over-penetrating bullet may hit something you don't intend to shoot. Always
ensure there are no innocent bystanders behind (or infront) of your target.
More Gun Safety Rules You Should Follow
5) Don't handle firearms when depressed or angry.
This rule is a very serious one I don't often see listed on firearm safety guides.
Those feeling angry or depressed are more likely to commit suicide and homicide. While
the huge majority of legal firearm owners will never do either of these things and I don't
think it's an excuse to take away our rights, I still think this issue is important to talk
about.
LEGAL firearm owners are far more at risk for committing suicide than homicide, as
many homicides are carried out by those illegally owning firearms. Regardless of
whether guns are owned legally or not, gun suicide victims have outnumbered gun
homicide victims in most years since 1968.
6) "Clear" a firearm anytime you touch one.
As soon as you pick up a firearm, without the immediate intention to shoot it, the first
thing you should do is ensure that it's empty. For semi-automatic firearms, release the
magazine, then inspect the chamber to ensure that it's empty.
Despite this being a great rule to follow, you should still treat all firearms as if they were
loaded even if they've been cleared.
7) Don't rely on your gun's safety.M&P Shield Manual Thumb Safety
Just as you should still treat all guns as if they are loaded even after clearing them, the
use of a gun's safety is no excuse to disregard the other rules on this list. Even with
your gun's fire controls in the "safe" position, malfunctions can still take place.
This of course does not mean that you shouldn't use your gun's safety, just that it
shouldn't be the only thing preventing a firearm related accident.
8) Be sure that your barrel is clear of any obstructions before use.
First, be sure that your firearm is empty by removing the magazine and inspecting the
chamber. I mostly shoot pistols and AR-style rifles, so here's my procedure before using
those:
Pistols
Quickly field strip your pistol to the point you can remove your barrel, then ensure there
are no obstructions.
AR-Style Rifles
Remove the upper receiver from the lower receiver. Remove your charging handle and
bolt carrier group. Ensure there are no obstructions.
No matter what style firearm you are using, never look down the barrel from where the
bullet exits, especially if it is attached to the rest of your firearm. For other firearm
platforms, research how to safely check your barrel.
9) Always wear ear and eye protection.Shooting Ear and Eye Protection
Always wear shooting glasses and ear protection when using or being around firearms.
Nearly all firearms can cause permanent hearing damage when not using proper
hearing protection.
Shooting glasses can protect you from shrapnel and hot ejected casings.
If you're shooting at a public or privately owned range (that you pay to use), they usually
do and should require you to put these on before entering the area where firearms are
being shot.
10) Know your firearm.
I'm very much not a fan of people buying firearms then just setting them away in case of
a home invasion. While I am in favor of using firearms to protect yourself, you should
also become familiar with them.
This means reading the owners manual thoroughly and regularly practicing with your
gun at the range. Regular range time will also help you internalize proper safety
practices.
If you're new to firearms, it's also a great idea to take classes on firearm safety and
operating a firearm.
11) You can't safely use an unsafe gun.
If your gun isn't in proper working condition, it can't be used safely.
As the previous rule stated, it's important to be familiar with your firearm. You should
also regularly clean and service your firearm to ensure its in proper working order.
If you suspect any issues with your firearm, take it to a certified gunsmith. I'd also
recommend having a gunsmith look at it regularly after every few thousand rounds or
every year.
12) Know what to do when your gun fails to fire.
If you've pulled the trigger of your firearm and it failed to fire, the first step is to keep it
pointed in a safe direction for 30 seconds. This will keep you safe in the event of a
"hangfire" or delayed discharge.
After 30 seconds, remove and dispose of the cartridge in a safe way. Do not pull the
trigger again before removing the cartridge.
13) Make a habit of safely removing your holstered handgun.
For those of you who concealed carry or just use holsters, make a habit of safely putting
away your firearm. When not practicing drawing your firearm under safe conditions (dry
fire or live practice at the range), remove the entire holster with your firearm still in it
before removing the firearm from the holster.
This tip can help avoid accidents after long days of concealed carry. Though you should
practice drawing your firearm from a holster, its not necessary when its loaded and
you're at home.
14) Use the correct ammunition for your gun.
Using ammunition that's not intended to be used by your firearm can cause a
catastrophic malfunction that can result in serious bodily harm. ALWAYS carefully read
the owner's manuals for your guns and only use the ammunition listed.
For those of you who frequently shoot different calibers, you may want to consider using
color coded tape or rubber bands for your firearms and magazines. This can help
remind you which ammunition to use.
Magazine Marker Bands
Faxon has even introduced this as a product, with color-coded and labeled rifle caliber
marker bands—though you could also just use regular rubber bands. Another option is
to use a marker to label everything.
15) Don't handle firearms under the influence.
In most areas it's illegal to possess a firearm while under the influence of alcohol or
drugs. Regardless, doing so is a really bad idea.
Also keep in mind the effects of any prescription drugs you take. Some may prevent you
from safely handling a firearm.
16) Store firearms safely.Project Child Safe
How to store firearms is one of the more controversial subjects surround firearm safety.
The reason for this is many firearm owners want to ensure their firearms are readily
available for defending themselves, while some people recommend extremely strict
storage practices.
One thing we should all be able to agree upon is that firearms should not be accessible
to unauthorized users. When not on your person (concealed carry), you should store
your firearms in a gun safe.
For those of you with children or who have children visiting your house, this arguably
even more important. Children are most at risk for accidental firearm related injuries.
Project Child Safe has some great in-depth information for keeping children safe from
firearms.
17) Practice safe gun range practices.
When you bring guns to the range, be sure to always have them in a range bag or case.
Do not remove them from the case until you are in your shooting bay. This keeps you
from "flagging" others at the range.
Conclusion
This article wasn't intended to scare you about what can go wrong with firearms, but
rather to help teach you how to use them safely. Following these rules and others like
them can allow you to safely enjoy using firearms your entire life.
As a final note, remember that "everyone is a range safety officer". Be sure to call out
unsafe practices and report them to your range safety officer. Those who don't follow
proper gun safety put not only themselves, but you and others at risk.
