No one likes to talk about it. We all think we know all the safety things to know. Maybe you don’t know all the safety things to know and are scared to ask. Whatever it is, you can NEVER be too safe around firearms. PERIOD. That one fleeting moment of laughter or silliness can be the difference between you or someone else going home alive or in a body bag.
Just like a seat belt, the simple things can mean the difference between a great time with friends or an unpleasant conversation with others. There’s no reason to FEAR a firearm – seriously they don’t get up and start going off on their own – however you should RESPECT a firearm.
For too long Liberal’s have been accused of being soft or scared of guns. Having owned guns now for over a decade, there is nothing scary about owning a gun. No it’s not a flex, no I’m not compensating I promise. Being a member of the LGBTQ community, our community is especially vulnerable to violence from those that DO own guns, so why not level the playing field? Besides, an armed queer doesn’t get bashed, that’s a fact!
Let’s walk through some basic safety tips to ensure you are safe around guns and let’s start working to tear down that fear you may have about guns.
Let’s start with the basics about firearm safety. The three most important safety rules that you should drill into your heads are:
* KEEP YOUR FINGERS OFF THE TRIGGER UNTIL YOU’RE READY TO SHOOT
* NEVER POINT A FIREARM AT ANYTHING YOU DON’T INTEND TO DESTROY
* NEVER LOOK DOWN THE END OF THE BARREL
Now that we have that out of the way – and yes someone has done it before and will do it in the future – let’s talk safety. Anytime you’re handling a firearm, you need to be deliberate with your actions. Stop and think! Look around you. Is anyone going to be hurt by what you’re about to do?
Always assume any firearm is loaded no matter what. Trust but verify that the breach is clear. Not sure how to check? Ask for help! Never be afraid to ask for help with a firearm, its better than the alternative. The National Shooting Sports Foundation, Inc has many great safe handling tips on their website, however those tips are universal no matter where you are. Safety begins with you and the more you know, the safer you will be.
Always Keep the Muzzle Pointed in a Safe Direction – Like I said above – are you ready to destroy what you’re pointing your gun at? If the answer is no, then you better find a better place to point it!! Looking down the end of the barrel is NOT pointing it in a safe direction. If people would remember this simple rule, the number of accidents would drastically decrease! I think the NSSF says it best “A safe direction means a direction in which a bullet cannot possibly strike anyone, taking into account possible ricochets and the fact that bullets can penetrate walls and ceilings. The safe direction may be “up” on some occasions or “down” on others, but never at anyone or anything not intended as a target. Even when “dry firing” with an unloaded gun, you should never point the gun at an unsafe target. Make it a habit to know exactly where the muzzle of your gun is pointing at all times, and be sure that you are in control of the direction in which the muzzle is pointing, even if you fall or stumble. This is your responsibility, and only you can control it.“
Always be aware of where your gun is pointed.
Keep it unloaded and secured! – Generally you should store your firearms unloaded and in a secure location away from public view. If you have children in the home, it is critical you take numerous measures to ensure a child or an unauthorized person can’t access your gun to harm themselves or others. Just a simple door lock may not be enough to keep your guns secure, consider a trigger lock or a cable lock. You can usually get free gun locks from your local police department.
Keep your ammunition stored in a separate secure location if possible. Consider an ammo storage cabinet if needed. Keeping the ammunition away from the firearm helps reduce the likelihood of children obtaining them. It’s recommended not to store firearms loaded.
Unload your gun as soon as you’re done shooting. Make sure to clear the breach and remember, keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction! It’s your responsibility to ensure children and unauthorized person’s don’t access your firearms, so do your part to keep everyone safe.
Don’t trust the safety switch – Just because it says “safety” doesn’t mean it can’t break. The safety switch is not a replacement for proper and safe handling of a firearm. It’s up to YOU to be safe. Never rest a loaded gun against any object because there is always the possibility that it will be moved from its position and fall which may cause the gun to discharge. To ensure the gun is actually safe, remove the magazine and clear the breach!
Do you know what’s beyond your target? – So, you should now understand some basics to keep you safe. Let’s talk about keeping others safe. You’re at the range, your target is all set up and ready to go. You have your safety glasses on, hearing protection, you draw your gun and start to aim at the terrible pink paper bad guy. Do you know what’s beyond that target? Is it a road? Is it a park? Is it a school? If you can’t answer this question with 100% certainty, STOP! You should always know what is beyond your target. Bullets don’t just magically stop once it hits paper nor do they stop when you hit the wall. Bullets can fragment and send shards everywhere. There is nothing important enough where you can’t take the extra 1-2 seconds to confirm what is beyond your target before pulling the trigger. Once that trigger has been pulled, you can’t press pause and undo it.
Use the correct ammo – This should be a no brainer however you’d be surprised how often this mistake happens. It can have lethal consequences if you’re not paying attention. Pay attention to the ammo as you load your magazines, check it for damage. Make sure you are using the proper ammo for your gun – don’t load a 9mm with 45 magnum. Don’t skimp on ammo either. The bargain bin, bottom of the barrel, back shelf 10$ box is probably not going to work well and may be dangerous to use. Just because it’s cheaper doesn’t make it better.
It didn’t go BANG when I pulled the trigger! – STOP! This could be a dangerous situation but if you STOP, think, and react carefully, you’ll be back on the range in no time. Occasionally a cartridge fails to fire (FTF), it happens, however to clear the malfunction, keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction, remove the magazine, keep your face away from the breech, and open the breech. This should cause the problem cartridge to eject from the firearm. Once the cartridge has been ejected, load your magazine, rack the breech, and get back to enjoying the range. Make sure to dispose of that failed round safely!
Always wear ear and eye protection – Your hearing and sight are some of the most valuable senses you have. Making sure to wear safety glasses rated for shooting and ear protection designed for firearms will help ensure these senses are around for you as you age. Gun shots are incredibly loud without hearing protection and can quickly lead to permanent hearing damage after just a few rounds. Wearing eye protection can help protect you from any debris from the range, help protect your eyes in the event of a cartridge or gun malfunction, and when cleaning, they can help protect you from that random spring you forgot about that goes flying every time you take the gun apart!
Your barrel is not a shovel – Much like keeping your muzzle pointed in a safe direction, you also need to take care to ensure your barrel is free of obstructions. The NSSF says it best “Before you load your firearm, open the action and be certain that no ammunition is in the chamber or magazine. Be sure the barrel is clear of any obstruction. Even a small bit of mud, snow, excess lubricating oil or grease in the bore can cause dangerously increased pressures, causing the barrel to bulge or even burst on firing, which can cause injury to the shooter and bystanders. Make it a habit to clean the bore and check for obstructions with a cleaning rod immediately before you shoot it.“ Again, NEVER LOOK DOWN THE END OF THE BARREL! Use that cleaning rod if you’re ever unsure.
If the recoil seems “off” or “weak”, STOP IMMEDIATELY. Ask for help if needed. Release the magazine, open the breech, and use a cleaning rod to confirm the barrel is clear. Take your gun to a gunsmith for service if needed. Make sure you use the correct ammo with your gun as a smaller caliber could fall into the barrel and become an obstruction. When in doubt, STOP AND CONSULT A GUNSMITH!! This could be a potentially lethal situation if not handled correctly.
Don’t modify your gun – Yes, you can still add that cool optic or flashlight, that’s not the type of modification I’m talking about. I’m talking about modifying the operation of the gun in a manner not intended by the manufacturer. Not only will this likely void your warranty, you could modify the gun in such a way that it may cause a significant malfunction and cause serious injury. Just don’t do it. Trust me it’s not cool
Learn, study, practice, repeat – Never stop learning, never stop practicing. Learn all you can about YOUR gun. The more you know about YOUR gun, the safer you will be. The more you practice the motions of loading and removing a magazine, racking the slide, clearing the breech, the safer you will be. Handling a firearm requires practice and it should be practiced often to ensure your skills and mind stay in touch with the serious nature of handling a firearm.
Safety on the range begins with you. Knowing how to handle your gun in a safe manner, knowing how to handle malfunctions, and most importantly, knowing where to aim can keep you and others safe. Safety is everyone’s responsibility when it comes to firearms and if you ever see someone acting like a fool with a gun at a range, don’t be afraid to speak up and call out the unsafe behavior!
I’d like to thank the National Shooting Sports Foundation, Inc (NSSF) for their awesome collection of resources for firearm owners, MAGA and Liberal alike. Please consider visiting their website to learn more about safe and responsible gun ownership.
I’d love to hear your safety tips, questions, or comments. Please feel free to leave a comment below. Remember Liberal’s, you’re not alone, gun owning liberal’s do exist and we’re here to help you.
Take care of yourself and each other.
Evan
