In 2018, guns caused around 40,000 deaths across the country. Some of these were suicides, others were homicides and others were completely accidental.
Data like this shows that regardless of whether you own ten guns or one, you need to ensure that you follow basic gun safety rules at all times.
Luckily, gun safety is not a complicated subject. The truth is that there are several gun safety tips you can follow to ensure that you and the people around you stay safe.
So what do you need to know?
Keep reading to learn about seven gun safety rules that you need to follow at all times.
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Point Your Gun in a Safe Direction
One mistake that many rookie gun owners make is not paying attention to the direction that they point their guns. This greatly increases the chances that you’ll injure someone else while moving.
If you’re moving around with other people, keeping your gun pointed towards the ground is almost always a safe option. You want to ensure that if you accidentally fired the gun, it wouldn’t harm anyone.
Keep in mind that the “correct” position to point your gun might change based on the circumstances and environment around you.
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Keep Your Fingers Off of the Trigger
It’s tempting to keep your fingers on the trigger when you’re using a gun. After all, you want to be ready to shoot at any time, right? Not exactly.
Keeping your fingers on the trigger increases the risk of you pulling it prematurely, or worse—shooting something that you didn’t want to shoot. Oftentimes, this ends up being something that jumps out and surprises you.
To mitigate the risk, ensure that you keep your fingers off of the trigger at all times. Only when you’re 100% certain that you’re ready to fire the gun should you touch the trigger.
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Be Clear on What Your Target Is
Remember that a gun is a weapon designed to kill. That means that each time you fire it, there should be no doubt in your mind as to what you’re aiming and firing at.
Aside from having a clear target in mind, you also want to make sure you know what’s behind your target. Failing to take that into account can lead to injury, or in some cases, death.
To prevent accidents from happening, make a point to think and then shoot. If you’re uncertain at all about what you’re aiming at, wait a moment to pull the trigger.
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Don’t Shoot a Gun That You’re Unfamiliar With
One of the best things about guns is that there are tons of makes and models to choose from. From tiny pistols to custom order Cooper firearms designed for hunting, there’s a gun for just about everyone.
However, don’t fall into the trap of thinking that just because you know how to use one gun model, you can use them all. Different guns operate and shoot in completely different ways.
Before you shoot any type of gun, spend some time learning how it operates and how you can use it safely. If possible, you can even look into taking a class on it.
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Protect Your Body
Another thing that many new gun users don’t realize is how loud guns can be. This noise can catch people off guard and increase their chances of shooting at something that they don’t mean to fire at.
If appropriate for the situation, make sure to cover your ears when shooting. Ear protection will help ensure that you don’t damage your ears while pulling the trigger.
Likewise, you’ll also want to take measures to protect your eyes. Guns can release both gas and debris, both of which can be harmful. Protective goggles will keep anything that the gun releases from causing serious damage.
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Store Your Guns When You Don’t Use Them
As a golden rule, anytime you’re not using your guns, make sure to store them in a safe and secure location. This will prevent other people from being able to access them, reducing the chances of preventable accidents from happening.
The best place to put them is in a secure safe or vault that keeps them password protected. You don’t want children or anyone else to stumble upon them and be able to use them.
Depending on the circumstances, the law may even find you guilty if you leave your guns accessible and something happens. Protect yourself and others by storing them away when you’re not using them.
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Keep Ammunition and Guns Separate
Aside from keeping your guns stored away when you’re not using them, you’ll also want to keep the magazines empty. This ensures that if someone does break into your safe, they won’t be able to do anything with the guns that they find.
Each time you pick the gun up, you’ll also want to turn the safety device on.
If you’re unsure how to load gun ammunition or engage a safety device, you probably shouldn’t be using them in the first place. Take a safety class to ensure that you understand how to do everything.
Make Sure to Follow All of These Gun Safety Tips
Whether you use a gun for hunting, sport, or self-defense, you need to make sure that you follow safety protocols at all times.
The gun safety tips mentioned in this guide can help you get started with using guns in a safe and controlled manner. Always remember that while they can be fun to use, guns exist to kill.
Because of that, using them requires an incredible amount of responsibility.
Are you interested in learning more firearm safety tips? If so, make sure to check out the rest of our site.
