Gun safety over the holidays

[RavenTai]

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/accidental-shooting-deaths-injuries-spike-holidays-44322479


This article reads a bit anti, but It does bring up a solid point:

There will be a lot of new guns in a lot of excited and inexperienced hands in the next couple of weeks. this is a good thing if we can keep everyone safe.

I imagine that many here are the source of gun information for their circle of friends. And I think we have a responsibility to push the 4 rules of gun safety whenever and wherever we can.

The Four Rules.
All guns are always loaded
Never point the gun at anything you are not willing to destroy.
Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on target (and you have made the decision to shoot).
Be sure of your target and what is beyond it.

My son got his first gun last Christmas, only after I had drilled these rules into him and he had demonstrated them to me for a year with his bb gun.

He was also present for my only negligent discharge in 20 years of shooting. I broke two of these rules. Following a third prevented tragedy . Quite embarrassing for me but quite a leaning experience for both of us.

 

[NeuseRvrRat]

I avoid the range during the week after Christmas. Wait for the kids to go back to school and for the new to wear off the new guns. I try to avoid the range on weekends year round.

 

[jamesjames]

I sent an email to my 4-H shooting club reminding them of the 4 Rules of Safety Safety and cautioning them not to let any guests or family members on Christmas morning to grab a newly unwrapped archery bow and dry fire it. You'd be surprised how may bows (compound) are blown up on Day 1 by an unthinking or unknowledgeable relative. Remember, compound and recurve bows are considered firearms and should be treated that way.

 

[Fire_Moose]

The Four Rules.
All guns are always loaded
Never point the gun at anything you are not willing to destroy.
Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on target (and you have made the decision to shoot).
Be sure of your target and what is beyond it.

My son got his first gun last Christmas, only after I had drilled these rules into him and he had demonstrated them to me for a year with his bb gun.

He was also present for my only negligent discharge in 20 years of shooting. I broke two of these rules. Following a third prevented tragedy . Quite embarrassing for me but quite a leaning experience for both of us.

FTFY

 

[RavenTai]

FTFY

Thank you, copy paste failure

 

[Arkansas Paul]

Definitely worth taking some extra precautions around the holidays.
No one in my family is actually getting a new firearm (I am getting some AR parts however) but there are still safety concerns to consider.

My wife is bringing her niece (4 yrs old) home when she visits her family for the holiday and she will be staying with us for a week or so. This child has grown up in a home where there are no firearms so she is unfamiliar with them.
I have already locked away everything that was easily accessible and put all handguns well out of reach of a child. Gotta be careful when children have never been exposed.

 

[Axis II]

lock them up too with kids being around the house. I wasn't home a few years ago and had my M&P in my level 3 serpa duty holster and duty belt laying on the bedroom floor. I came home and said damn I didn't know they would be here now so began putting stuff up and the top hook of the serpa 3 was open but they other locks kept it from coming out. of course none of the nephews admitted to it and it caused a big argument but I know how I left my stuff.

 

[Dog Soldier]

That is the most bias anti gun propaganda. The Liberal media ABC News and the the leftest news papers are quoting only the dangers of privately owned firearms.
How many individuals will defend themselves and family with a firearms during that same period? Oh! they don't report that do they? Do really think ABC,AP and Today are doing gun owners a favor? Humm?

 

[P5 Guy]

I always welcome new firearms owners. The best advice I have is take a gun handling and safety course before you hit the firing line.
I went to my local range just yesterday and there were a few new shooters, that kept the RSOs busy.

 

[azrocks]

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/accidental-shooting-deaths-injuries-spike-holidays-44322479
He was also present for my only negligent discharge in 20 years of shooting. I broke two of these rules. Following a third prevented tragedy . Quite embarrassing for me but quite a leaning experience for both of us.

Takes a lot of courage to admit that, and the fact you label it 'negligent' shows your head's in the right place. I've had an ND myself - one - and I draw on that experience daily to make sure it never happens again. In my case, the only thing that died was a television set, but only because I was following at least one other rule.

That's the thing about the firearm rules many people don't understand... they're redundant for a reason. If you follow them religiously, then even when you accidentally break one, the others are there to keep you from blowing someone away. But if you start slacking on them because you know the other rules are there to back you up, then you lose that redundancy. And that's when really bad accidents happen.

Great post sir.

 

[Panzerschwein]

Lord Cooper, the Holy One, must be heeded on the holidays.

 

[Archie]

The only things I can think of is to be aware of children and other non-firearms educated people around one's arms. (And hot stoves, fireplaces and power cords, etc...)

Second, remember that 'egg nog' or 'warming brandy' and firearms do not mix.

But Merry Christmas anyway.

 

[Ignition Override]

Arkansas Paul:

My grandson is one year, three months old, but walking a fair bit. Even though he is seldom in our home and is not yet strong enough to open a car door, I've changed something already.
If not worn, the carry gun is Only kept secured very high in a closet, no longer left in the car-not left anywhere else, even taking a shower etc. Not quite perfect but it should be a good start.

Archie: about fifteen years ago a guy who had already retired from the company (in Point Clear AL) decided to clean his gun: a .357 or .44. He must have forgotten all of the safety rules. And he was known to sometimes enjoy his liquor, seen at my parents' social event.
Alcohol could easily be a factor in vast numbers of gun accidents/tragedies. I wonder whether life-long experience with guns causes some people to be convinced that they can Not really screw up?

 

[Slotback]

I was asked about a pistol this week. I drilled a 6 year old over and over that ALL GUNS ARE ALWAYS LOADED.

 

[Dog Soldier]

Slotback, that works better than threats of fear. One positive approach beats two anti gun frights.

 

[Koolmoose]

We had an ND on Cape Cod right before Christmas. A 3 yo got her father's pistol and shot herself in the hand. She survived but the dad is in deep trouble.