At 3BY, we think that every person should be in total control of every gun they own. It’s called the four rules of firearms safety
Here are the four rules of firearms safety that are universally accepted. We didn’t write these, but we endorse them wholeheartedly.
Firearms Safety Rule 1. Treat every firearm as if it’s loaded.
Even if you’re absolutely certain a gun is unloaded, still follow these rules for safe gun handling. You want these rules to be natural habits; holding yourself to them each and every time helps make them so.
Firearms Safety Rule 2. Never point a firearm at anything you are not willing to destroy.
Accept the mindset to always keep your gun pointed in a direction that would safely stop the bullet should it discharge. At a gun range and around other people, if you’re not on the firing line, your gun should stay holstered muzzle-down, cased, or locked open and pointing down and away from people.
If you’re on the firing line, your gun should stay pointed downrange, at the bullet trap backstop at the end of the range. If you will be cleaning or handling your unloaded gun at home, find a safe direction ahead of time — bullets penetrate floors, ceiling, windows, and walls. Masonry, a full bookcase, a full freezer, downward (if you’re on the ground floor), or even a five gallon bucket of sand may be good options.
Firearms Safety Rule 3. Always be sure of your target and what is beyond it.
You are responsible for the entire path of every bullet you fire from your gun. If you hit your intended target, the bullet may still continue through.
Firearms Safety Rule 4. Keep your finger off the trigger until you are on target and ready to fire.
When you’re holding a gun but not shooting, “index” your trigger finger. This means to keep your trigger finger straight, and to raise it up to rest flat alongside the body of your gun. Whenever you are not on target and ready to fire, your trigger finger should always be outside the trigger guard and resting straight and flat alongside the body of your gun.
PS: You didn’t think this was going to be some rant against the second amendment, did you? Not here at 3BY, not now, not ever.
Always worth repeating.