7 Essential Gun Safety Tips You Need to Know

Before handling a gun for the first time, it’s essential to understand proper gun safety. Gun safety should come before anything else. It should come before you buy a gun and before you shoot a gun for the first time. 

When you understand the safety measures surrounding handling a gun and how to shoot a gun, you can keep yourself and all those around you safe. For those who don’t know how to properly handle a gun, firearms of all types may seem frightening. Once you learn how to properly handle a gun, however, you gain confidence and peace of mind. 

In the guide below, you’ll find several gun safety tips and rules you should know before buying a gun. Continue reading below to get started!

1. Treat Every Gun as a Loaded Gun

One of the most basic safety tips when handling a gun is to treat it as if it’s loaded. This is true for any and all guns you handle. Even if you know the gun was unloaded, you still must treat it as if it’s a loaded gun with the safety off. 

It’s not uncommon for a shooting accident to happen because the person handling the gun thought it wasn’t loaded, but it was. The best way to prevent any accidents from happening is to always have the mindset that it’s loaded. 

2. Only Place Your Finger on Trigger When Shooting 

The next rule is another rather simple one. Only put your finger on the trigger if you intend to shoot something. You never want to place your finger on the trigger for looks, fun, or for a joke (even if it’s unloaded). 

Doing so is simply bad and unsafe handling of a gun. If your finger reaches the trigger, then you should be planning to pull it, because even if you have no intentions of pulling the trigger, placing your finger on it could cause you to do so accidentally. Therefore, aim first at your target, and then place your finger on the trigger. 

3. Never Point Gun Towards Something You Don’t Intend to Shoot

Here’s another easy rule to follow. Never point the gun towards something you don’t intend to shoot. This rule applies at all times and it doesn’t matter if your finger is on the trigger or not. 

The nose of the gun should always be pointed in the opposite direction of people and kept in the direction of your target. If you walk into a shooting range and start turning around with the gun in your hand, it’s going to cause a commotion. There’s also a good chance you’ll be asked to leave. 

To prevent this from happening, remove the gun from its case and place it on the shooting range table in front of you with the nose pointed at the target. Keep your gun like this unless you’re shooting it or putting it back in its case. 

4. Know What’s Beyond Your Target

If you take your gun to a shooting range, then you don’t have to worry too much about what’s beyond your target. However, if you’re shooting on your own range or in another location, then it’s important to take this into consideration. Even if you find yourself in a situation that requires you to use your gun for safety purposes, you should know what’s beyond your target. 

There’s always a chance you could miss your target. If you do, then what could you possibly hit that’s behind it? Always be aware of this. 

5. Don’t Shoot Until You Know How to Use It

If you’re unsure how to use a gun or uncomfortable with doing so, then don’t shoot it. Wait until you’re more familiar with shooting and handling a gun before doing so. Thankfully, there are many great gun safety courses you can take that’ll teach you all about gun safety and how to handle a gun properly. 

Most of these classes will even offer training sessions where a professional takes you to the range and teaches you how to shoot the gun. Do this a few times until you’re ready to go to the range on your own. Once you feel more comfortable and confident handling a gun, you can begin to live in condition yellow. 

This article can provide more information on condition yellow vs condition white. 

6. Wear Proper Eye and Ear Protection

Before you’re allowed to enter the range, you’ll be asked to put on your proper eye and ear protection gear. Most shooting ranges will have their own protective glasses and headpieces for you to use. When you’re done, you throw them into a bin for them to be cleaned before being used by a new visitor. 

You can also purchase your own safety glasses and headpiece if desired. These should both be worn each time you fire a gun on the range/

7. Store Your Gun Safely and in the Correct Manner

Storing your gun in the proper manner is just as important as using it in the proper manner. The way you store your gunsshould prevent anyone who’s unauthorized from accessing them. Your gun should have a case that you use to transport it in, but you should also have a way to keep it safe at home as well. 

You can consider looking into gun safes and other accessories to ensure the safety of everyone in the home. 

Understanding Gun Safety Is Your First Step to Handling a Gun

Before you handle a gun for the first time, make sure you understand gun safety rules and tips. Use the information given here in this guide to place yourself on the right track. Then, speak with the professionals at the shooting range or at your gun safety class to answer any other questions or concerns you might have. 

For more lifestyle, entertainment, and many other topics, check back here on a daily basis.