Following basic gun safety rules helps protect the investment you’ve made in your custom firearm and the people around you. Firearms safety is the responsibility of not only every gun owner but every adult in a home with a firearm. We want to build a better firearms experience, from proper handling on the range to safe storage and gun education for any children in the household. Our Second Amendment rights give us the unique freedom to protect ourselves with these powerful tools, but it’s up to us to use that freedom responsibly.
Safety First–Always.
Firearms are dangerous tools, and following common sense gun safety rules can help you keep yourself and those around you safe. Just as rushing or skipping steps with a gun upgrade can lead to weapon failure or damage, failing to make safety a priority can lead to dangerous situations. Don’t be part of the statistics anti-gun activists will use to take away your rights. Build, use, and store your weapons safely and responsibly every time.
The Top Gun Safety Rules
Because firearms are specialized tools, gun safety rules can vary depending on the situation you’re in and your location. We’ll be looking at some broad firearms safety guidelines that can get you started, but pay attention and use good judgment when firearms are involved in the real world. Different ranges may have different rules while shooting on their lanes, and businesses or properties can have a variety of guidelines involving firearms on their premises. Maintain your situational awareness, make good decisions, and be a gun educator by example to those around you who may not be as familiar with firearms.
- Treat Every Gun Like It’s Loaded
If there’s a Golden Rule of Gun Safety, this is it–suitable for all ages and all experience levels. Consider every gun loaded, cocked, and ready to fire until you have verified for yourself the weapon is safe. That means unloading it and visually inspecting the chamber to ensure it’s clear. This needs to be checked anytime the gun leaves your possession or line of sight for any reason.
- Never Point the Gun at Anything You Don’t Intend to Shoot
Let’s call this the Silver Rule because it goes hand in hand with the first. If you assume every gun is loaded, then it should be a no-brainer that you never point that potentially loaded firearm at anything you don’t want to destroy. If you’ve verified the gun is unloaded and safe, still don’t do it because the people around you have to assume the gun is loaded, potentially putting you and them in harm’s way. Firearms use, including aiming and shooting drills, should be confined to the appropriate locations, or for home-based dry-fire drills, there needs to be clear communication beforehand and a secure drill area set up for safety.
- Your Target is Your Responsibility
Whether you’re on the range or in the field, you’re accountable for every round you fire and its consequences, and that means you better know your target, its surroundings, and what’s behind your target. Stray shots can have devastating repercussions, and no shooter is perfect. Identifying your target, shot placement, and potential complications gives you the information you need to make a good decision behind the trigger. If there’s any doubt, don’t shoot.
- Learn Your Weapon
This can be one of the most enjoyable gun safety rules because it requires you to get hands-on with your firearm for safety. You need to understand how your weapon and its custom components work. Become familiar with the principles involved in its function, including loading, unloading, cleaning, stripping, disassembly, and firing. This helps you better understand when something is just a little “off.” It’s also a great opportunity to find further upgrade opportunities, like aftermarket slides and barrels…to further your gun education, of course.
- Practice Trigger Discipline
Keep that wandering pointer finger along the bottom edge of the frame until you’re ready to squeeze the trigger and fire. This is one of the most violated gun safety rules by new shooters. Make proper trigger discipline part of basic gun education, keeping the finger off the trigger until you’re ready to fire. Hold yourself accountable and make it a good habit, and you’ll avoid the increased risk of an embarrassing and potentially deadly misfire.
- Secure Your Gun When Not In Use
What does securing your gun look like? That depends on the situation. If you legally carry, that means holstering your weapon and ensuring the retention mechanisms are engaged to avoid losing the gun. For travel, that can mean securing your unloaded weapon in the trunk of your car while ammunition goes in the locked glove box. At home, weapons not in use should be properly stored in either rapid-response lock boxes for your home defense gun or cleaned, lubricated, and secured in a gun safe for longer-term storage.
- Be a Responsible Citizen/Gun Owner
Whether you’re at the range, shopping for groceries, or talking with neighbors at a barbeque, you have the opportunity to talk about gun safety, proper gun use, and protecting our rights. Firearms safety and gun education are the best defense against irresponsible behavior from newer shooters and fear-mongering from those who want to curtail your ability to keep and bear arms.
Build a Safe, Legal Custom Gun
We’re proud to offer quality gun parts that help you upgrade your firearm or restore a well-loved gun to peak condition. We engineer our barrels and slides to meet or exceed OEM specifications and then build them to meet real-world conditions because the safety of your firearms when you carry and use them is important to us. Subscribe to our email list to receive updates in your inbox. Order your aftermarket gun parts from Patmos Arms today.