Assume all guns are loaded all the time.
Never assume a gun is empty. Check to ensure that the gun is unloaded and the chamber empty. If you act like the gun is always loaded, you will treat it with more respect and are less likely to have a negligent discharge.
Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on target and you are ready to shoot.
Never trust your safety. Touching a trigger accidentally may cause the gun to shoot at the wrong time. Many deaths and injuries have been caused by unintentionally pulling the trigger.
“The gun just went off.” Guns do not go off by themselves. There is no such thing as an accidental discharge; only a negligent or unintended one. The trigger must be pulled, unless it is of an incredibly poor or faulty design (video). Plenty of people have been killed by assuming a gun was empty and claiming that it “just went off.”
Unless you are carrying the weapon in a holster, using it for self-defense, or actually hunting, it is best to keep guns unloaded until ready to shoot.
Handguns come with many types of safeties. Some have external levers, some only have devices to keep the gun from firing except when the trigger is pulled. Learn about the different types of guns, learn about your gun (read the manual), and know how guns work. Handguns come with many types of safeties. Some have external levers, some only have devices to keep the gun from firing except when the trigger is pulled. Know how to draw from a concealed holster if you carry concealed.
Always keep the gun pointed in a safe direction.
Control where the muzzle is aimed. If on a shooting range keep the gun pointed downrange (towards the target). If you are not on a shooting range, it is best to point the gun down and away from anyone's legs or feet. The safest direction depends on where you are and what you are doing.
If your gun does not fire when you pull the trigger, keep it pointed towards the target for 30 seconds or more before ejecting the cartridge. There may have been a 'hang fire' where the gun will fire long after the trigger was pulled.
Never point the gun at anything you are not willing to shoot.
Never point a gun (loaded or unloaded) at another person. Don't point a gun at anything that you don't want to destroy, like your car, a wall, or a TV set. If you do have a negligent discharge, if the gun is pointed in a safe direction.
Know your target and what lies beyond.
Make sure the area of your target is free of people, property, or animals. Don't shoot at random objects until you have inspected them. On a target range, make sure you have a safe backstop like a hill or berm behind the targets. In self-defense, you wouldn't necessarily want to shoot at a criminal if he is surrounded by children. When hunting, ensure that if you miss, you will not hit a person or something else. Do not shoot on or over a road and shoot away from buildings.
Lock your guns away when not in use, especially if children are in the home.
Guns should either be in a safe place or on the person. Use a gun safe, gun cabinet, locking container, or gun lock that prevents it from firing. Children should never be able to access a firearm, even if they have been trained in gun safety and they are well-disciplined. Unsecured firearms are the leading cause of accidental firearm deaths to children.
Use only the correct ammunition for your gun.
Know the caliber and what loads are appropriate for your gun. For example, 9x19mm Parabellum (Luger) is different than 9x17mm, which goes by a variety of names like .380 ACP or 9mm Kurz. In revolvers, .38 Special can be fired from .357 Magnum chambered revolvers, but not the other way around.
Wear ear and eye protection when shooting.
Never use alcohol or drugs before or while shooting.
Clean and maintain your guns.
Make sure the gun is in good working order and that the barrel is clear of obstructions. If you are shooting and a bullet does not come out when you fire the gun, but the empty case ejects, make sure the bullet is not lodged in the barrel. See a gunsmith. Do not attempt to fire another bullet to push the first one out. Your gun may explode.
Never assume a gun is empty. Check to ensure that the gun is unloaded and the chamber empty. If you act like the gun is always loaded, you will treat it with more respect and are less likely to have a negligent discharge.
Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on target and you are ready to shoot.
Never trust your safety. Touching a trigger accidentally may cause the gun to shoot at the wrong time. Many deaths and injuries have been caused by unintentionally pulling the trigger.
“The gun just went off.” Guns do not go off by themselves. There is no such thing as an accidental discharge; only a negligent or unintended one. The trigger must be pulled, unless it is of an incredibly poor or faulty design (video). Plenty of people have been killed by assuming a gun was empty and claiming that it “just went off.”
Unless you are carrying the weapon in a holster, using it for self-defense, or actually hunting, it is best to keep guns unloaded until ready to shoot.
Handguns come with many types of safeties. Some have external levers, some only have devices to keep the gun from firing except when the trigger is pulled. Learn about the different types of guns, learn about your gun (read the manual), and know how guns work. Handguns come with many types of safeties. Some have external levers, some only have devices to keep the gun from firing except when the trigger is pulled. Know how to draw from a concealed holster if you carry concealed.
Always keep the gun pointed in a safe direction.
Control where the muzzle is aimed. If on a shooting range keep the gun pointed downrange (towards the target). If you are not on a shooting range, it is best to point the gun down and away from anyone's legs or feet. The safest direction depends on where you are and what you are doing.
If your gun does not fire when you pull the trigger, keep it pointed towards the target for 30 seconds or more before ejecting the cartridge. There may have been a 'hang fire' where the gun will fire long after the trigger was pulled.
Never point the gun at anything you are not willing to shoot.
Never point a gun (loaded or unloaded) at another person. Don't point a gun at anything that you don't want to destroy, like your car, a wall, or a TV set. If you do have a negligent discharge, if the gun is pointed in a safe direction.
Know your target and what lies beyond.
Make sure the area of your target is free of people, property, or animals. Don't shoot at random objects until you have inspected them. On a target range, make sure you have a safe backstop like a hill or berm behind the targets. In self-defense, you wouldn't necessarily want to shoot at a criminal if he is surrounded by children. When hunting, ensure that if you miss, you will not hit a person or something else. Do not shoot on or over a road and shoot away from buildings.
Lock your guns away when not in use, especially if children are in the home.
Guns should either be in a safe place or on the person. Use a gun safe, gun cabinet, locking container, or gun lock that prevents it from firing. Children should never be able to access a firearm, even if they have been trained in gun safety and they are well-disciplined. Unsecured firearms are the leading cause of accidental firearm deaths to children.
Use only the correct ammunition for your gun.
Know the caliber and what loads are appropriate for your gun. For example, 9x19mm Parabellum (Luger) is different than 9x17mm, which goes by a variety of names like .380 ACP or 9mm Kurz. In revolvers, .38 Special can be fired from .357 Magnum chambered revolvers, but not the other way around.
Wear ear and eye protection when shooting.
Never use alcohol or drugs before or while shooting.
Clean and maintain your guns.
Make sure the gun is in good working order and that the barrel is clear of obstructions. If you are shooting and a bullet does not come out when you fire the gun, but the empty case ejects, make sure the bullet is not lodged in the barrel. See a gunsmith. Do not attempt to fire another bullet to push the first one out. Your gun may explode.