Sometimes an instructor, always a student. As an instructor we must constantly search for the best ways to teach ideas and refine the process of maximizing performance. When learning from other instructors we often see the exact same idea expressed in a different way and it is up to us to decide which way will work best for us and our students going forward. Over the years, I have been exposed to many varieties of the firearm safety rules and the wording varies greatly, but the general ideas are identical. It is amazing how once someone subscribes to a certain doctrine, all others are forbidden.
Nearly every pistol instructor has stolen material from other reputable instructors. One of the greatest contributors has been Lt. Colonel Jeff Cooper who is famous for his Gunsite Training Academy. His version of the rules have been adopted by many and are arguably quite effective.
Rule #1: Treat all guns as if they are loaded.
Rule #2: Never point a gun at anything you do not want to destroy.
Rule #3: Keep your finger off the trigger until ready to fire.
Rule #4: Be absolutely sure of your target and what’s behind it.
As an NRA Training Counselor, I teach the NRA rules of firearm safety and safe gun handling which consists of three major rules and 8 supporting rules.
Rule #1 ALWAYS keep your muzzle pointed in a safe direction.
Rule #2 ALWAYS keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot.
Rule #3 ALWAYS keep your gun unloaded until ready to use.NRA Rules for using and storing a gun include:
- Know your target and what is beyond
- Know how to use your gun safely
- Be sure the gun is safe to operate
- Use only the correct ammunition for your gun
- Wear eye and ear protection as appropriate
- Never use alcohol, over-the-counter drugs or prescription drugs which could impair clearness of intellect before or while shooting.
- Store guns so they are not accessible to unauthorized persons.
- Additional Safety Precautions
Be aware that certain types of guns and many shooting activities require additional safety precautions.- Cleaning
Regular cleaning is important in order for your gun to operate correctly and safely. Taking proper care of it will also maintain its value and extend its life. Your gun should be cleaned every time that it is used.
As a hunter education instructor, the rules are worded slightly differently and the NSSF has their own wording as well. So you can imagine the short circuit that occurs when attending a class and the instructor asks, “What is the first rule of firearm safety?” It depends on which list you prefer. Which one is right? They all are! If you would rather argue about which list is right you are missing the point. Be as safe as you can be and help others do the same because every time an accident occurs (yes, I called it an accident. Look it up) we all get hurt because the anti-gun crowd uses it as fodder.
All of that being said, I must say I prefer the NRA rules for the most part for several reasons. As an instructor of mostly adults, it is important to utilize as many tools of andragogy as possible to make things stick. Most adults can only remember 3 to 5 things in short term memory. Since these things are so important, let’s cater to the adults who can only remember three things. I am also a fan of being succinct and avoid redundancy if it isn’t necessary. All three NRA rules begin with ALWAYS. This encompasses guns that are loaded and guns that are unloaded which negates the necessity to preface with “all guns are always loaded” since the condition of the gun shouldn’t alter the way we handle it. It says ALWAYS. Big, Bold ALWAYS.
Now the third NRA rule is the one the keyboard commandos like to discredit the most. It also starts with ALWAYS, but they typically overlook the last three words and assume it implies that people should carry an unloaded gun for self defense. That’s not what is says! When a gun is being carried for self defense, it is “ready to use.” The rule simply states that it should be unloaded when it is not in your control or it is being stored.
NRA Rule #1 pretty well encompasses Cooper’s Rules 2 and 4 as long as you appreciate that a “safe direction” means nothing of consequence will get hit if the gun goes off, even if it penetrates the first point of impact. The Hunter Ed version of the safety rules adds the possibility of something popping up between you and the target as well. All valid points, but a “safe direction” is not safe if something unintended is going to get hit.
In summary, as we prepare students to do new things with their guns, we need to be as clear and succinct as possible to ensure they can juggle all of the new information in their short term memory long enough to apply it. The longer the list, the less likely they will be able to remember everything. I prefer to focus very hard on NRA rules 1 & 2 since they are the ones that will make the biggest difference on the range. We also emphasize RANGE ETIQUETTE to help facilitate following the guns safety rules in a class environment.