Most Important Gun Safety Rule

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  • Which is most important?


    • Total voters
      0

    cmamath13

    Master
    Rating - 100%
    28   0   0
    Mar 3, 2013
    1,539
    84
    Greenwood
    I just saw this video on youtube and it got me reflecting on gun safety.
    [video=youtube;9eYUBA6OKQU]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eYUBA6OKQU[/video]

    So, which do you think is the most important?
    RULE I: ALL GUNS ARE ALWAYS LOADED

    RULE II: NEVER LET THE MUZZLE COVER ANYTHING YOU ARE NOT WILLING TO DESTROY

    RULE III: KEEP YOUR FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER UNTIL YOUR SIGHTS ARE ON THE TARGET

    RULE IV: BE SURE OF YOUR TARGET
     

    Tombs

    Grandmaster
    Rating - 0%
    0   0   0
    Jan 13, 2011
    12,021
    113
    Martinsville
    Rule 2 really breaks down what the other rules are trying to get across, but in a more absolute manner.

    I really dislike the concept of saying one rule is more important than another... Since you can have a ricochet and hit something you weren't aiming at, so rule 2 doesn't cover everything.
    It especially falls apart when getting into the socratic method, which is why the other rules are equally important to cover every possibility.
     

    JKEdge

    Plinker
    Rating - 0%
    0   0   0
    Feb 9, 2012
    90
    6
    Indy
    Rule #1...that's always the first rule I was told, and the first rule I tell anyone I'm shooting with if they don't already know.
     

    tbhausen

    Master
    Site Supporter
    Rating - 100%
    83   0   0
    Feb 12, 2010
    4,927
    113
    West Central IN
    If I HAD to pick one, it would be rule 2. The rules reinforce one another, but even if all else goes wrong, observing that one rule minimizes the chance of injury or death more than any other when all four rules are considered individually.
     

    ModernGunner

    Shooter
    Rating - 0%
    0   0   0
    Jan 29, 2010
    4,749
    63
    NWI
    As noted, all 4 are important, and there for a reason.

    But, if picking just one, I'd pick #2. Rule #1 is sort of an abstraction, the overall 'concept' of gun safety. Rule #3 is an excellent idea, but it's not 'impossible' for a firearm to discharge by a malfunction or breakage (no matter how remote the possibility). Rule #4 is what you want to do WHEN (or while) firing, so the act of pulling the trigger is already implied.

    Rule #2, if done properly, resolves any failure of the others. If pointed in a SAFE direction any time it's NOT shooting at an INTENDED target, there's no chance of hitting something unintended, and that includes by ricochet. If there's a potential for a ricochet through some mishap, then it's NOT pointed in a SAFE direction, really.
     

    Bunnykid68

    Grandmaster
    Rating - 100%
    22   0   0
    Mar 2, 2010
    23,515
    83
    Cave of Caerbannog
    As noted, all 4 are important, and there for a reason.

    But, if picking just one, I'd pick #2. Rule #1 is sort of an abstraction, the overall 'concept' of gun safety. Rule #3 is an excellent idea, but it's not 'impossible' for a firearm to discharge by a malfunction or breakage (no matter how remote the possibility). Rule #4 is what you want to do WHEN (or while) firing, so the act of pulling the trigger is already implied.

    Rule #2, if done properly, resolves any failure of the others. If pointed in a SAFE direction any time it's NOT shooting at an INTENDED target, there's no chance of hitting something unintended, and that includes by ricochet. If there's a potential for a ricochet through some mishap, then it's NOT pointed in a SAFE direction, really.

    Sums it up nicely
     

    ATM

    will argue for sammiches.
    Site Supporter
    Rating - 100%
    30   0   0
    Jul 29, 2008
    21,019
    83
    Crawfordsville
    Without a doubt, rule #2.

    3 and 4 are also good.

    I reject rule #1 completely, it should be discarded.
     

    tetsujin79

    Sharpshooter
    Rating - 100%
    28   0   0
    Apr 23, 2013
    387
    18
    NWI
    I feel #2 is where people can get more easily dead from, i.e. "I know it's unloaded, let me point it at my head and pull the trigger..." :twocents:
     
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