Gun Safety

According to the 2016 edition of the Industry Intelligence Report by the National Shooting Sports Foundation, the number of unintentional firearm related fatalities have declined by 57% over the past two decades. These statistics indicate that firearm safety training is critical and effective.

The decision to own a firearm must also include one’s commitment to frequent training. Training gives you the confidence you need to effectively use your firearm as a defensive weapon.

While having a firearm does not guarantee your personal protection, the proper training gives you the ability to better protect yourself and your family. The following gun safety rules are extremely important and should be exercised at all times.

1. Always treat every gun as if it were loaded. Even when you know that a gun is unloaded, handle it as if it were loaded.
   
   
2. Never put your finger on the trigger until you are ready to fire.
   
   
3. Always keep your guns unloaded until you are ready to use them. Stored guns must be unloaded guns. A gun used for home defense or carried for personal defense is not considered “stored.” For home defense we recommend that you purchase a lockable safe designed for quick access. There are many different types on the market that allow you to safely and quickly retrieve your weapon. Ideally, when storing your gun, it is best to store the ammunition separately.
   
   
4. Always know what is beyond your target. Not every round you fire hits the intended target or stops within the target. As you practice shooting, keep in mind that you may need to defend yourself in an area where others are present.
   
   
5. Always wear eye and ear protection. Guns are loud, and fired rounds produce an eye hazard! While worrying about eye and ear protection in a self-defense situation isn’t practical, having the ability to see or hear a threat is!
   
   
6. Never use alcohol or other drugs before or while shooting. Alcohol and other drugs may result in mental or physical impairment and should be avoided when handling a firearm.
   
   
7. Never look down the barrel of your gun. Even when cleaning or checking for ammunition, never look down the barrel of your gun. There is never a good reason to look down your gun barrel.
   
   
8. Store guns so they are not accessible to unauthorized persons. When storing your gun, you should use additional safeties other than the mechanical safeties built into your gun.
   
   
9. Clean your gun as the manufacturer recommends. Cleaning and firearm maintenance are important factors in your firearm’s ability to fire safely and effectively.
   
   
10. Use the correct ammunition for your handgun. Most guns have the correct ammunition type stamped on the barrel. Ammunition may be identified by the information on the box or cartridge to fire safely and effectively.
    
    
11. Ensure that those around you follow the safety rules. To ensure your safety, make certain that others follow these safety rules as well.