FIREARMS SAFETY - Please read these safety rules as prescribed by our insurance company. 

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1.   Know your target and what's beyond it: Understand that range training does not provide you with the skills necessary for the real-world realities of knowing your target and what's beyond it. At the range you may subconsciously identify the bulletproof backstop, and once you have mentally checked that box you may not think about it again. The big takeaway here is knowing that your range training is not preparing you for the realities of this safety rule in the real world.

 

2.   Treat every weapon as if it's loaded at all times: This is the most violated firearms safety rule of them all. The fact of the matter is that we as humans treat weapons as if they are loaded only when we are convinced, they are, but once we are convinced they are not loaded, we treat them as if they are made of plastic or wood. This occurs subconsciously even by experienced shooters. The issue here is that most likely some day when you think the weapon is empty it won't be, and when you pull the trigger, you will get a loud noise. The more you handle the weapons the greater the chance of this occurring. The key thing to dial in here is that if you always treat the weapon as it is loaded then when the day arrives no one will be bleeding, and no one will need to call 911. This is critical and cannot be overemphasized.

 

3.   Maintain muzzle awareness at all times: This safety rule goes hand-in-hand with Rule Number Two, but you should also realize that formal range training does not prepare you for the real-world realities of muzzle awareness. In a formal class, the instructor gets all the shooters online to keep everyone safe with no one down range. This does not reflect reality. There is no firing line in the real world, and there is always someone down range. In addition, if you aren't acutely aware of where your weapon is pointing at all times in the real world you can set yourself up for a brandishing or a similar charge that can be a felony in some states. Range training does not prepare you for any of this, so the burden is on you to be a switched-on shooter.

 

4.   Finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot: You must train yourself to place your trigger finger well away from the trigger guard so this placement becomes second nature. If you are clearing your house in the middle of the night the last thing you want to be worried about is if your trigger finger is in a safe and proper location. Negligent discharges can occur under stress if it is not. This rule is often called the Golden Rule of Firearms Safety as it can prevent catastrophe if rigidly adhered to, even in conditions where Rules Numbers 2 or 3 are violated.