it was mike.
and it use to be 10 then the 7 rules. i still teach them. i never shortened anything.
Yep. The NRA never had "4 Rules of Gun Safety". 3, 7 and 10 have been their numbers. The 4 Laws of Gun Safety was not from Cooper either. They came from Bill Nottingham, and Cooper quickly adopted them. This is from a Chapter in my Text for my CCW course. The portions in bold are the actual text from Biil as he originally wrote them.
2. Review of Weapons Safety
The 4 Laws of Gun Safety (Provided by Bill Nottingham,
NottinghamB@mail.dec.com) are the
most fundamental safety rules for anyone that handles a gun. There are many additional rules for
different situations, but these are ones that apply for ALL situations. The more often you handle
guns the more likely someday you will have a Negligent Discharge (ND)! It's just a matter of
when, where, and under what circumstances. If you are obeying the 4 Laws of Gun Safety when
it happens, it will be VERY scary. IF YOU'RE NOT, IT COULD BE VERY TRAGIC!
The 1st Law of Gun Safety - The Gun Is Always Loaded!
EVERY TIME you pick up or draw a gun, inspect it in a safe manner, control your muzzle, and
always treat it as a loaded gun. You should VISUALLY inspect your gun's chamber every time
you pick it up even if you just sat it down moments before. It may seem redundant but
establishing good habits may save a tragedy during a moment of "brain-fade". Remove all
ammunition and loaded magazines from the immediate area when handling any gun. Also, if
you hand someone your gun, VISUALLY show them the empty chamber and accept no less in
return! An experienced gun handler would never feel insulted.
The 2nd Law of Gun Safety - Never Point A Gun At Something You're Not Prepared To Destroy!
The best way to handle a gun is to imagine the worst case scenario: Assume your "empty" gun is
loaded and that it's going to function PERFECTLY! When you press the trigger it will FIRE!
Since you are prepared for that, you should only point the gun in a safe direction - never
allowing the muzzle to sweep you or someone else. That way, if "brain-fade" does result in a
Negligent Discharge (ND), it will be into a safe impact area and there won't be a tragedy.
The 3rd Law of Gun Safety - Always Be Sure Of Your Target And What Is Behind It!
Bullets can penetrate lots of things, many of which may surprise you. Identify your target before
firing - even before dry-firing. If you are not sure, DON'T FIRE! Just as important, make sure
there's a safe impact area behind your target. For home dry-fire practice, find and aim only at a
BULLET PROOF BACKSTOP. Even though you have checked and double-checked your gun,
you should still treat your gun as though it's loaded and functional. Plasterboard walls and outer
walls are not bulletproof. A handgun bullet can easily travel through several rooms before
stopping. Who is in these rooms? If you're not sure, and you still aimed in that direction,
SHAME ON YOU!
The 4th Law of Gun Safety - Keep Your Finger Off The Trigger Until Your Sights Are On The
Target!
KEEP YOUR FINGER OUTSIDE THE TRIGGER GUARD! Almost all Negligent Discharges
(ND) are caused by placing the finger on the trigger when you aren't prepared to fire. A finger
on the trigger during reloading, during movement, during the draw, holstering, or while clearing
a jam have led to several Negligent Discharges (ND). It's difficult to isolate the trigger finger
from the muscles required to hold the gun firmly - they all want to contract together. It can be
especially difficult under stress and anxiety. Therefore, THE FINGER SHOULD NOT TOUCH
THE TRIGGER UNTIL THE INSTANT YOU ARE PREPARED TO FIRE! This holds true
even if you find yourself in a legitimate self-defense situation.
In conclusion, you should take personal responsibility for the safety of your guns and for those
persons you permit to handle them. Remember, even those with experience may have bad habits
that die hard! Keep guns safely out of the hands of children, people that aren't trained or
responsible, and especially THIEVES! If you enjoy your gun hobby, it's up to you to prevent a
personal tragedy - and not give others the propaganda they need to take it away. More people
would enjoy guns if properly socialized so do your part to keep it safe and fun!