Anytime we deal with firearms we’re talking about safety. Safety is very important in the firearms industry and very important to us. There’s a reason that some people refer to firearms as weapons and that’s because they can be dangerous if they’re misused. That’s why we have the safety rules, that’s why we preach the safety rules, and that’s why we live the safety rules.

Safety Rules

Since we’re special, we have our own variation on the 4 rules of firearm safety. The reason we have our own is because each of the major organizations in the firearms industry seem to have their own. They all essentially achieve the same thing but they may be worded differently or in a different order depending on what that particular organization thinks is more important. You’ll see that the rules we live by are very similar to the others.

1. Treat every firearm as if it’s always loaded.
   No matter how many times you’ve cleared the chamber to make sure it’s empty, no matter how many times your neighbor has verified, you always treat every firearm as if it’s always loaded. The reason this is number one is because if you follow this one, even if you have a negligent discharge, no one will get hurt.
2. Never point the muzzle at anything you’re not willing to destroy.
   The muzzle is the end of the barrel where the projectile exits. Every firearm has one, it’s the business end. It’s the end you don’t want to be around when the trigger is squeezed. If you don’t point the muzzle at anything you’re not willing to destroy, you’re on your way to being safe. Make sure you don’t point it at your toes or your neighbor’s toes! This is also the reason why I shoot at the Redwood Falls Sportsmen’s Club instead of in my backyard. By shooting at a shooting range, I know the backstop is up to par and the fill is clean so I don’t have to worry about my projectile hitting anything I don’t intend for it to hit.
3. Keep your finger off the trigger until you’re on target and ready to shoot.
   Not only does this mean keep your booger hook off the bang switch so you don’t have an accidental discharge, it means keep your finger up on the frame of the firearm – up above the trigger. This does two things: 1) It puts other people at ease because they can see that you don’t have your finger anywhere near the trigger and it won’t go off. 2) Promotes a better grip because it encourages your hand to sit higher on the firearm thus, controlling the recoil better.
4. Know your intended target and the backstop.
   Not every shooter can hit exactly what they’re aiming at every single time. And even if they do hit exactly what their aiming at each time, the projectile may still continue to travel. That’s why it’s so important to make sure there’s nothing between the shooter and their target and there’s nothing beyond the target that the shooter is not willing to destroy.

Redwood County Fair NRA Gun Safety Rules

NRA Safety Rules

1. Always keep the gun pointed in a safe direction.
2. Always keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot.
3. Always keep the gun unloaded until ready to use.

The NRA has some additional safety rules on top of their big three:

• Know your target and what is beyond.
• Know how to use the gun safely.
• Be sure the gun is safe to operate.
• Use only the correct ammunition for your gun.
• Wear eye and ear protection as appropriate.
• Never use alcohol or over-the-counter, prescription or other drugs before or while shooting.
• Store guns so they are not accessible to unauthorized persons.
• Be aware that certain types of guns and many shooting activities require additional safety precautions.

The NRA (National Rifle Association) is a great organization to support because they support us as citizens who excersize our right to bear arms.  Learn more about the NRA Gun Safety Rules here and learn more about how you can help support the NRA here.

MN DNR Firearm Safety

MN DNR Safety Rules

1. Treat each firearm as if it is loaded.
2. Always control the muzzle of your firearm.
3. Be sure of your target and what is beyond.

DNR Firearms Certification is required of anyone born after December 31, 1979 to purchase a hunting license in Minnesota. The state of Minnesota created curriculum for volunteer instructors to use to certify youth and adults ages 11 and older. The Firearms Safety Certificate becomes valid at the age of 12. Learn more about the MN DNR Firearm Safety Course here.