Firearm Safety
Safety, by far, is the most important part of firearms and shooting:
HANDLING firearms safely
LOADING, reloading, and unloading firearms safely
SHOOTING firearms safely
CLEANING firearms safely
STORING firearms safely
PERSONAL safety
LEGAL safety
"Safety is the common thread in all Indiana Firearms Training classes."
Basic Firearms Safety Rules:
All guns are always loaded unless you, personally, have just cleared them!
Always keep the gun's muzzle pointed in the safest direction. No exceptions!
Always keep your finger off the trigger and alongside the frame until ready to shoot. Now, here's the hard part: Immediately after shooting, move your finger off the trigger and back alongside the frame!
The first three rules are critical to avoid catastrophic negligent discharges. More Rules:
Always keep guns inaccessible to unauthorized persons--especially children.
Always be sure of your target and what is beyond.
Never handle a firearm that you cannot "clear."
Never tell anyone a gun is unloaded, and...
Never believe anyone who says a gun is unloaded--you must check it.
Unloading the Semi-Automatic Pistol Safely:
Always remove the magazine first.
Then "rack" the slide—at least twice—to remove any chambered round; then, lock the slide back.
Finally, visually and physically inspect the chamber to verify it is empty.
If you rack the slide first, it will simply chamber a fresh round from the magazine. If you, then, remove the magazine, the gun is still loaded. The sequence is critical.
Defensive Firearm Safety
Never tell anyone a gun is unloaded, and...
Never do Show & Tell. Only un-holster your weapon when it is time to use it.
A defensive firearm comes with an awesome responsibility.
The defensive firearm is the tool of absolute last resort.
The best way to prevail in a violent encounter is to avoid it in the first place!
The costs of deploying deadly force can be extreme.