Four General Handgun Safety Rules

 We constantly hear of the tragic firearm mishaps. Most, if not all, of those accidents could have been avoided had special handgun safety rules established by Col. Jeff Cooper been learned, practiced and implemented. I strongly encourage you to study and reflect on them. They have kept me along with countless others from tragedy; they can and should do the same for you. ~ Tom Russell

(As formulated by Colonel Jeff Cooper)

RULE 1: All firearms are loaded.
There are no exceptions. Don’t pretend that this is true. Know that it is and handle all firearms accordingly. Do not believe it when someone says, “It isn’t loaded.”

RULE 2: Never let the muzzle of a firearm point at anything you are not willing to destroy.
If you would not want to see a bullet hole in it do not allow a firearm’s muzzle to point at it.

RULE 3: Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on the target.
Danger abounds if you keep your finger on the trigger when you are not about to shoot. Speed is not gained by prematurely placing your finger on the trigger as bringing a firearm to bear on a target takes more time than it takes to move your finger to the trigger.

RULE 4: Be sure of your target and what is behind it.
Never shoot at sounds or a target you cannot positively identify. Know what is in line with the target and what is behind it (bullets are designed to go through things). Be aware of your surroundings whether on a range, in the woods, or in a potentially lethal conflict.

Remember, safety is a state of mind, not mechanics! Take nothing for granted!

Please feel free to contact me if you have any additional questions or would like to register for a class.