Is a 5th Safety Rule Needed?

[churchmouse]

How many of us learned about the safety of sufficient scope eye relief the hard way....

Me. A long long time ago.

 

[IndyDave1776]

There are plenty more rules than just the "gun handling" rules. Use of proper ammo, for example. Putting a "Ruger only" load in a Charter Arms is definitely breaking a safety rule, but you'll only make it once per revolver.

How many of us learned about the safety of sufficient scope eye relief the hard way....

Me. A long long time ago.

I got lucky. I had a knowledgeable person explain the dangers of getting 'ring around the eyeball' before I discovered it on my own!

 

[churchmouse]

I got lucky. I had a knowledgeable person explain the dangers of getting 'ring around the eyeball' before I discovered it on my own!

You can barely see the scar these days. If even but yeah, I got popped.

 

[rob63]

I was told about M1 Garand thumb, but still managed to learn it the hard way.

 

[BigBoxaJunk]

It always gets me when I see a gun at a gun show, and it looks good from a distance, but then when I pick it up, I realize that a former owner ignored one important gun rule:

A butter knife is NOT a proper gun-smithing tool.

 

[IndyDave1776]

I was told about M1 Garand thumb, but still managed to learn it the hard way.

Yes, but avoiding that takes a bit more talent than merely not holding your face too close to a scope.

 

[Thor]

How about, just follow the rules you know and don't create new ones for people not to follow.

 

[BugI02]

Last I heard we were trying to cut it down from 4 rules to 3. Now there's talk of adding a 5th rule?

Get it together people.

Shhhh! We add a fifth rule, and then we sacrifice it to ATM and his co-conspirators to appease them and we end up with four rules!

 

[bwframe]

Last I heard we were trying to cut it down from 4 rules to 3...

No WE weren't.

IMHO, those that practice the Four Rules will have the respect and understanding for what they are dealing with. There will be no issue with unauthorized access.

 

[Sylvain]

Umm.....Sylvain???

Technically I can only give French kisses.I cannot not French kiss.

And that 5th rule the OP is proposing is just common sense and should be applied to all your valuables, not just guns.

Don't leave guns unattended.Same way you wouldn't leave a laptop (or your wallet) unnatended at a café table as you go to the restroom.

 

[Trigger Time]

I thought it was "do not attempt to catch a falling gun"?

Unless it's a Sig p320, in that case RUUUUUUN

 

[ATM]

Last I heard we were trying to cut it down from 4 rules to 3...

We did. One that had crept in there as a safe gun handling rule was shown to be unnecessary nonsense to be discarded.

Some will still repeat it as it was repeated to them, but it can't be defended rationally nor is there any need to try "following" it.

 

[SubicWarrior1988]

No need for a 5th rule, just as there is no need for a 4th rule.

 

[cosermann]

Just now having a chance to get back to the thread. Thought about this when going through an audio series by Claude Werner recently, "Serious Mistakes Gunowners Make." In it, Claude identifies 11 categories of "mistakes," most of which could be avoided by a lifestyle of adherence to Cooper's 4 rules.

Of the other categories, two - lost/stolen guns and unauthorized access, could be mitigated with proper storage - faily simple.

There were also a few that could be mitigated by folks having a proper understanding of firearms and self-defense law.

 

[TheJoker]

Shhhh! We add a fifth rule, and then we sacrifice it to ATM and his co-conspirators to appease them and we end up with four rules!

Brilliant!

 

[daventos]

I got lucky. I had a knowledgeable person explain the dangers of getting 'ring around the eyeball' before I discovered it on my own!

I was lucky and learned from others as well. A guy came to work one day with his eye cut and swollen. If I pick up anything bigger than a .22 with a scope I automatically picture him.