There are 4 universal rules of firearm safety.

1. Treat all guns as if they are loaded.
2. Never let the muzzle of the gun point at anything you're not willing to destroy.
3. Keep your finger off the trigger until the sights are aligned, and you're ready to fire.
4. Be aware of your target, what's in front AND behind.


The NRA teaches 3 fundamental rules.

1. ALWAYS keep the gun pointed in a safe direction.
2. ALWAYS keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot.
3. ALWAYS keep the gun unloaded until ready to use.


Any ONE of these rules can save your life or the life of another. Ignoring ANY of these rules will guarantee an accident waiting to happen.

Case in point.

Last month, one of my fellow NRA instructors had a student that had a little trouble with "keep the finger off the trigger". After repeated warnings he had to dismiss the student on the grounds of safety. It has had, as the student was one of his co-workers. :)

Saturday, that same student shot himself in the leg, while trying to holster his firearm... with his finger in the trigger guard. The hollow point bullet ripped through the middle of his right thigh and down to his ankle. It severed the femoral artery and he nearly bled to death. He was lucky to have someone at home and called 911. He had to get AirEvac'd to the hospital.

Follow the rules. Be safe.

Especially those of you who choose a Glock, XD or any other firearm that incorporates the safety into the trigger.

Thank you for the reminder. Kinda like buckle up and don't drink and drive... you can never hear the message too many times.

No doubt. I will also further remind everyone that it is YOUR OWN responsibility to inspect a firearm, to insure that it's unloaded before manipulating it. I don't have enough finger and toes to count how many times someone has just "handed" me a firearm without checking. Even at gun stores! They just reach in the case and hand you the firearm! Who's to say that some evil a$$hole didn't drop a bullet inside the barrel, handed it back to the gun clerk and they just put it back in the case.

I don't even trust people who hand me a gun with the action locked open or the revolver's cylinder open! I always do a visual inspection myself before doing anything else.

Two months ago a guy came by to look at a shotgun that I had for sale. We got to talking about 1911's (my favorite) and he reaches into his bag and pulls out a new 1911 he just purchased. He locked the slide back and handed it to me. The guy failed to remove the loaded magazine. He handed it to me and I just about pooped myself!

I removed the loaded magazine and quickly corrected his error. He copped an attitude had the balls to tell me that he's a Scottsdale PD ,and he knows what he's doing! I thanked him for coming by and "with all due respect" reserved the right to refuse the sale. I slowly walked away, walking backwards so I don't loose sight of him, while keeping MY hand on my holstered firearm.

2ndchance wrote:No doubt. I will also further remind everyone that it is YOUR OWN responsibility to inspect a firearm, to insure that it's unloaded before manipulating it. I don't have enough finger and toes to count how many times someone has just "handed" me a firearm without checking. Even at gun stores! They just reach in the case and hand you the firearm! Who's to say that some evil a$$hole didn't drop a bullet inside the barrel, handed it back to the gun clerk and they just put it back in the case.

I don't even trust people who hand me a gun with the action locked open or the revolver's cylinder open! I always do a visual inspection myself before doing anything else.

Two months ago a guy came by to look at a shotgun that I had for sale. We got to talking about 1911's (my favorite) and he reaches into his bag and pulls out a new 1911 he just purchased. He locked the slide back and handed it to me. The guy failed to remove the loaded magazine. He handed it to me and I just about pooped myself!

I removed the loaded magazine and quickly corrected his error. He copped an attitude had the balls to tell me that he's a Scottsdale PD ,and he knows what he's doing! I thanked him for coming by and "with all due respect" reserved the right to refuse the sale. I slowly walked away, walking backwards so I don't loose sight of him, while keeping MY hand on my holstered firearm.

Sorry, I don't feel that last move was necessary, but to each his own. Also how many of us have done something like that at one time or another.
I have been handling firearms since I was 11 years old and can think of twice I screwed up. Both times I was lucky enough to get away with it.
I am 65 years old and have carried everyday for the last 30 years.

Yeah, you kinda had to have been there. A cop "copping" an attitude was more than I wanted to deal with. I felt it was better to end it right there than to pursue it any further.

2ndchance wrote:Yeah, you kinda had to have been there. A cop "copping" an attitude was more than I wanted to deal with. I felt it was better to end it right there than to pursue it any further.

His name wasn't Rick by any chance?:) I understand now. I thought I'd bring this thread to the top for a reminder.