[allank]

I have been teaching my daughter the 4 rules and she has been handgun shooting at the range. We were watching a TV shooting instruction program about home protection, and they showed keeping a loaded handgun in a bedside gun vault (thin metal walls) or in a holster clipped to the underside of the desk.

She then asked me - aren't they violating rule #2, because the muzzle was pointing through an outside wall or into another room on the same level. And she knows with modern home construction that in neither case would the wall stop any bullets.

How do I answer that one, because she is right!

[WC145]

When it is in a safe or in a holster it is not actively being pointed at anyone, if no one has their hands on it it is inert, like a hammer, an electric drill, or any other tool. No potential for injury until somebody picks it up.

[Vonderek]

The gun is not going to "go off" all by itself. The rules of safe gun handling are exactly that...rules for when you are actually handling a gun. The fact is, no matter how you carry eventually your gun's muzzle will sweep somebody or something (when you stand up or bend over or lie down or what have you.) To worry about this is unnecessary in the extreme. Especially if the gun is as you say locked in a bedside vault.

[mljdeckard]

+1^^

When I carry in a horizontal shoulder rig, I would be flagging the whole world as I turn around.

[AZ_Rebel]

How do I answer that one, because she is right!

No, actually she is not. The 4 Rules are meant for GUN HANDLING... not storage or holster carry. As others have pointed out - no gun goes off by itself.

[The Lone Haranguer]

Agreed, the safety rules only come into play when the gun is handled or fired. To use one example, yes, a horizontal shoulder holster does point the gun at everyone and everything behind you, but that is irrelevant when sitting in the holster. Only when you unsnap the thumb break and put your hand on the gun does it become a danger ... but even then you still have to violate Rule Three in addition to Two for it to do so.

[rcmodel]

The gun is not going to "go off" all by itself.
As others have pointed out - no gun goes off by itself.Actually, they do.

In the event of a house fire, a loaded gun will cook off a round in the chamber and the bullet will have just as much power as if you pulled the trigger.

It is a hazard to fire fighters and other emergency responders / bystanders.

Rounds in the magazine are harmless if they cook off.

How bout you just don't keep a round in the chamber and you don't have to worry about it?

rc

[HB]

As soon as you grab the gun, then you'll be pointing it in an unsafe direction then... might as well leave it pointing into the floor or away just to be safe?

[WC145]

Why argue the point? What if there's a fire or an earthquake or a volcanic eruption or an EMP or or or or.... this kind of BS has been worn so thin you can see through it.

A gun is a tool, treat it as such. A Skil saw can ruin your day if you don't handle it properly but as long as it is sitting there by itself it is harmless and no threat to anyone, just like a gun. If you try to anticipate or prepare for every imaginable scenario, no matter how ridiculous, like what direction should my gun point in the safe in case of fire or alien attack, you may as well as give in to the antigunners that place the blame on the gun and not the person wielding it.

Use common sense when handling guns, it is just that simple. There's nothing special about them, treat them with respect like you would any power tool that is plugged in and you'll be fine. I've got guns in my safe that have been stored hot for months and they have yet to to do anything on their own.

[allank]

Been out all day, just back, thanks for the replies and clarifications. OK, makes sense the 4 rules are when the gun is being handled. I sort of explained that to her referring to holstered guns, but did not quite make the required connection. Thanks.