NRA Rules vs Four Rules

[ilbob]

3. ALWAYS keep the gun unloaded until ready to use.

I don't see this as a dumb rule at all. if the gun is not in use, it should be unloaded. A gun being kept in a nightstand or in a hip holster for defensive purposes is in use. Note the rule does not say "ready to shoot", but "ready to use".

2. ALWAYS keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot.

Rule 2 is the one that mentions ready to shoot.

 

[RPCVYemen]

yemen, those are 3 of the 4 rules. you're just missing "all guns are always loaded"

That's sort of my point. The "all guns are always loaded" was not one of the rules I learned while growing up.

These are the ones I cling to....

Looks like Poor East Texan learned the same set I learned growing up.

I searched on the net, and it looks like the three rules I mentioned are pretty old, and may have been taught to me as the "Three Commandments of Gun Safety".

Here is another site that has the 3 rules (almost) exactly as I recall learning them as a kid:

http://www.grantcunningham.com/blog_files/category-safety-0026-security.html

I just wonder when the NRA changed the rule set, and why?

Mike

 

[Deleted member 66305]

1. Never point a gun at anyone or anything you aren't willing to shoot.
2. Always be sure of your target, and what's behind it.
3. Keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot.

I'd seen added to that:

• Keep your damn finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot.
• Keep your damn finger off the damn trigger until you are ready to shoot.

 

[ilbob]

Keep your damn finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot.
Keep your damn finger off the damn trigger until you are ready to shoot.

Thats the one that seems to get people. And it seems like it should be the easiest one to follow.

 

[Sato Ord]

I have to agree that I don't think the keep firearms unloaded until ready for use includes self defense weapons. Anyone who is familiar with personal defense weapons should understand that loaded in your holster, or on your nightstand is ready for use. The fact that you keep it ready includes, but isn't limited to, having it aimed at a target and ready to fire.

 

[Ske1etor]

I really don't think about the rules as they are ingrained in my head (Thanks to my father, grandfather and a couple of uncles). Although, I was taught the 3 rules by the NRA at a young age and learned the 4 rules by reading them here on the net.

My rules are as follows.

Never point it at anything you don't want a hole in.

Keep your finger off the trigger unless you find something that requires a hole.

Assume the gun is always capable of making a hole.

 

[VARifleman]

and therein lines the rub, varifleman. you can't expect people to apply different rules to different situations as consistently as they can apply a single set. hence, we should expect more accidents following the NRA rules than cooper's. a single set of rules that covers all the situations is FAR preferable to multiple sets of rules

If you follow the NRA rules, you aren't going to have accidents. That is just rubbish. As for the cooper rules...try explaining those to the new shooter that doesn't know anything about guns.
All guns are always loaded" and "Don't point a gun at anything you aren't ready and willing to destroy" have the element in combat that just doesn't fit well with the original mindset people should have on their first outing with a firearm.