I know, I know. “Guns don’t kill, people kill.”
Guns are still deadly weapons. And far too often, shooters seem to forget that fact. The attitude that many casual shooters take towards safety is that as long as they’re not trying to hurt someone, the gun is just a tool no more dangerous than a hammer or a camera. But whether you’re playing a game, plinking, or just practicing, the gun is still a gun. The gun doesn’t know that you’re just plinking. When it fires, it fires with the same force and deadly effect regardless of whether you were intentionally shooting the person that gets hit.
So when you are taking your gun out of its case, don’t point it at anyone. If you put it down on the ground or on a table, lay it in a position where it’s not likely to be pointed at anyone while it’s there or as you pick it back up. When you’re showing a student something about a gun, don’t point it at yourself, at your student, or at anyone else.
The Cardinal Rules exist for a reason.
This is not rocket science. Don’t point guns at people. Loaded, unloaded, slide locked back, cylinder open… I don’t care. It’s a gun. It can kill. You might not use it for that purpose, but it can. If we can all keep that simple fact in our minds whenever we have guns in our hands, the range will be a safer place.
Train hard & stay safe! ToddG
ok, so what happened?
Yeah, what happened? Nothing you post is without reason. Enquiring minds want to know.
Nothing dramatic happened. This is just something I’ve been meaning to write for a while. Most of my shooting is done during open hours at a public range (NRA Headquarters in Fairfax, VA). There’s a staff of trained ROs who do a pretty good job of maintaining safety, especially compared to other commercial ranges I’ve been to. But without fail, I see people pointing guns at themselves, their shooting buddies, or the rest of us all the time. And the reason is that they don’t treat guns as deadly weapons, they treat them like tools or toys.
Its the NRA range; its a holy shrine; nothing can happen to us. 🙂 (Almost joined you on Sunday but couldnt fit in schedule.)
But on a more serious note. Many ranges do a poor job of providing a “safe area” with a safe direction that is not up at the firing line. At many outdoor ranges in particular I have seen a lack of proscribed “safe areas” with safe directions. On getting the gun out of the case safely and into the holster this can sometimes create difficulties.
Indoors I try to unbox in the lane on the table but this is not always possible if there are no lane tables.
Amen to your post, Todd! I routinely see people violating firearms safety rules (and they are RULES, not guidelines!) all over the place with guns. Like I teach and believe on this: those rules should be part of your most strongly held moral beliefs, ethics and code of honor at all times, not just something you give lip service to.
Once you’ve seen somebody shot, whether intentionally or unintentionally, those rules start becoming something you really understand.
Thanks for the reminder. I see poor muzzle discipline all the time.
The four rules:
1) All guns are always loaded.
2) Never let the muzzle cover anything which you are not willing to destroy.
3) Keep your finger OFF the trigger until your sights are on the target.
4) Always be sure of your target.
Todd,
This is very true. I was at the range this past Saturday and was next to a gentlemen and his son who was about 7-8 years old. The RSO came over to tell the father that he would have to bring his target down if they were going to be shooting the target that close so they wouldn’t be shooting over the backstop with the .22 rifle they had. The young boy has the rifle in his hands and turns to hear what is going on and muzzles me about 5 feet away COM. I jumped out of the way and had the hair standing up on my neck for a second there. I truly hate being muzzled and the odd thing was the father had his Sig with the slide back sitting on the ledge aimed right down the firing line as well. It’s truly amazing how ignorant some can be to safety at times.
I was wondering if any of you out there would ever you use play in same sentance with firearms. if you can please come up with some.
“play” does not necessitate carelessness.
“Lincoln was killed with a firearm while watching a play.”
What do I win? 8)