In The Colonel's own words --
1. All guns are always loaded. An unloaded gun is useless, and no one should ever assume that any piece that he may see or touch is not ready to fire. Would that we would never again hear the plaintive wail, "I didn't know it was loaded!" Of course, it was loaded. That's why it exists. Treat it so!
2. Never let the muzzle cover anything that you do not wish to destroy. When you point a weapon, you may not always actually intend to destroy but you must be emotionally willing to do so. The fact that the piece is not loaded does not alter this. See rule 1.
3. Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on the target. Guns do not "go off" by themselves. Somebody fires them. The competent shuooter keeps his finger straight and outside the trigger guard until he verifies his sight picture. Violation of Rule 3 is responsible for about 80% of firearms mishaps.
4. Be sure of your target. Never shoot at anything that you haven't identified. Never shoot at a shadow or a sound or a silhouette or anything that you cannot see clearly. Also make sure of what is behind and beyond your target that a bullet may penetrate completely.
These are the four general rules of gun safety. They apply always: while you are on and off the range, at home, in transit, hunting, or fighting. In studying them, you will see that if they were always observed by all people at all times there could be no such things as a "firearms accident". As to that, it may be proper to insist that there is no such thing as a firearms accident - only negligence.
Source: Jeff Cooper, The Art of the Rifle
Published by Paladin Press
IMO, the book is outstanding, and highly recommended for anyone that may ever have a reason to use a firearm.
http://www.paladin-press.com/detail.aspx?ID=66
1. All guns are always loaded. An unloaded gun is useless, and no one should ever assume that any piece that he may see or touch is not ready to fire. Would that we would never again hear the plaintive wail, "I didn't know it was loaded!" Of course, it was loaded. That's why it exists. Treat it so!
2. Never let the muzzle cover anything that you do not wish to destroy. When you point a weapon, you may not always actually intend to destroy but you must be emotionally willing to do so. The fact that the piece is not loaded does not alter this. See rule 1.
3. Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on the target. Guns do not "go off" by themselves. Somebody fires them. The competent shuooter keeps his finger straight and outside the trigger guard until he verifies his sight picture. Violation of Rule 3 is responsible for about 80% of firearms mishaps.
4. Be sure of your target. Never shoot at anything that you haven't identified. Never shoot at a shadow or a sound or a silhouette or anything that you cannot see clearly. Also make sure of what is behind and beyond your target that a bullet may penetrate completely.
These are the four general rules of gun safety. They apply always: while you are on and off the range, at home, in transit, hunting, or fighting. In studying them, you will see that if they were always observed by all people at all times there could be no such things as a "firearms accident". As to that, it may be proper to insist that there is no such thing as a firearms accident - only negligence.
Source: Jeff Cooper, The Art of the Rifle
Published by Paladin Press
IMO, the book is outstanding, and highly recommended for anyone that may ever have a reason to use a firearm.
http://www.paladin-press.com/detail.aspx?ID=66
