Know the safety rules before you get to the range
Over the past year, we’ve seen an unprecedented number of first-time gun owners in America. This is great news! But it’s important for new gun owners to take their new title seriously. Guns don’t care about your intentions. If you mishandle a gun, it could have disastrous effects. That’s why training is so important for all gun owners, but especially new ones.
Gun Safety Fundamentals
In every public gun range in the country, you will find range rules. They will all vary slightly, but most will be some variation of the following rules:
Treat Every Gun As If It Were Loaded
It’s important to follow safety rules even when you know your gun is unloaded because it will create good habits. You should always keep your barrel pointed in a safe direction, even when you know there’s no chance of it going off. If you do that and create that muscle memory, it’s less likely that you will have an accident when the gun is loaded.
Never Point Your Gun At Anything You Don’t Intend To Shoot
Guns are not toys. If you want to play Cowboys and Indians, get a Nerf gun. If you point a gun at someone jokingly, you shouldn’t be allowed to own guns. On the range, you should only point your guns at your intended targets. Any horseplay on the firing line will be quickly dealt with.
Keep Your Finger Off Of The Trigger Until You Are Ready To Fire
The gun will not fire unless the trigger is pulled. The best way to avoid an accident is to keep your finger off of the trigger until you are sighted in on your target and ready to shoot.
Be Aware Of What Is Left and Right Of Your Target, and Behind Your Target
Even the best, most experienced marksmen miss from time to time. When you are shooting, you need to have situational awareness of what is to the left and right of you, as well as what is beyond your target. Also because bullets have a tendency to go through their target and continue traveling.
The Best Training For New Gun Owners
If you’re a new gun owner, check out the different courses we have for new gun owners. All our sessions will teach you about proper handling, loading, unloaded, and disassembly of your handgun, as well as proper range safety procedures. If you enjoy the basic class and want more, and you’re feeling confident with your new gun, it might be time to take a concealed carry course or some of our more advanced pistol courses.
Guns are great tools for defending oneself and our families, and they are also great recreational fun. But they come with great responsibility. Handle your guns properly and you won’t have anything to worry about.