Gun safety

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Pistol safety rules and practice recommendations are intended to avoid accidental disposal or negligent debit, or the consequences of firearm malfunctions. Their purpose is to eliminate or minimize the risk of unintentional death, property injury or damage caused by undue possession, storage or handling of firearms. There are 47,000 unintentional gunfire deaths worldwide in 2013.

Video Gun safety

Rules and mindset

Pistol safety exercises try to instill certain mindsets and habits by following specific rules. The mindset is that firearms are essentially dangerous and should always be kept carefully and handled with care. Handlers are taught to treat firearms with respect to their destructive ability, and are very reluctant to play or play with guns, a common cause of accidents. The rules of weapon security follow from this mindset.

In 1902, politician and enthusiast of the English game Mark Hanbury Beaufoy wrote several widely quoted verses about weapons security, including many prominent points. The verses "A Father's Advice" begin with the following:

Ira L. Revees, in his book 1913 The A B C of Rifle, Revolver and Shooting Pistol , states as follows:

• "The Accident-Proof Rule":

"The muzzle of a firearm should not point in the direction where, if disposed, it will do injury where injury is not meant to be done."

• "companion rule of the recently provided":

"All firearms are always loaded."

• And he goes on to say:

"Triggers should not be pulled until the identity of the object fired has been established without hesitation."

Various versions of the "Ten Commandments of Pistol Safety" have been published. This one from the Australian Sports Shooters Association:

1. Treat each weapon with respect due to the loaded gun.
2. Just bring empty weapons, lowered or with open action, to your car, camp, and your home.
3. Always be assured that the barrel and its actions are clear from obstacles.
4. Always take your gun so you can control the direction of the snout.
5. Make sure your target before you pull the trigger.
6. Never point a gun to anything you do not want to take.
7. Do not leave your gun unattended unless you unpack it first.
8. Do not climb a tree or fence with a loaded gun.
9. Do not shoot on a flat, hard surface or surface water.
10. Do not mix gunpowder and alcohol.

Jeff Cooper, an influential figure in modern arms training, formalized and popularized the "Four Rules" of safe handling of firearms. The previous list of weapons security rules includes at least three basic safety rules or as many as ten rules including safety rules and sports etiquette. In addition to Cooper, other influential weapons security teachers include Massad Ayoob, Clint Smith, Chuck Taylor, Jim Crews, Bob Munden, and Ignatius Piazza.

The Four Rules of Jeff Cooper:

1. All weapons are always loaded.
2. Do not let the muzzle cover anything you do not want to destroy.
3. Keep your finger from the trigger until your shot reaches the target.
4. Make sure your target and what's outside of it.

The National Rifle Association provides a similar set of rules:

1. ALWAYS keep the gun pointing in a safe direction.
2. ALWAYS keep your finger away from the trigger until it's ready to shoot.
3. ALWAYS keep the rifle lowered until ready to use.

Project Appleseed provides similar rules for their sniper rifle clinics:

1. Always keep the muzzle in a safe direction.
2. Do not load until given a load command.
3. Keep your finger from the trigger until the shot is on the target.
4. Make sure the people around you are following security rules.

The Canadian Firearms Program uses The Four Firearm ACTS concept:

1. A ssume of each firearm loaded.
2. C activate the muzzle direction at any time.
3. T turns off the trigger finger and exits the trigger trigger.
4. S ee that firearms are lowered. PLEASE safely.

The United States Marine Corps uses the following four weapons security rules:

1. Treat each weapon as if it were loaded
2. Do not point the weapon to anything you do not want to shoot
3. Keep your finger straight and off the trigger until you're ready to shoot
4. Keep the weapon safe until you want to shoot

Empty ammunition, which is a casing filled with gunpowder, wrinkled or covered with lumps, dangerous up to 15 feet. In the past, people have injured or killed themselves believing that empty is harmless. Therefore, the security rules of the gun apply even to empty filled rifles.

Treat firearms as loaded

This rule is a matter of keeping the mindset on alert. The goal is to create safe handling habits, and to prevent alleged reasoning along the lines, "I know my gun is dismantled so certain unsafe practices are OK". The proposition "the pistol is always loaded" means that, although it can be seen that this is not true of a particular firearm, that knowledge is never trusted or relied upon until proven definitively. So even if the firearm turns out to be loaded when the handler thinks it is not, treating it as a charge will avoid "accidental release", and if someone should happen, avoid damage, injury or death.

Many gunshot accidents resulted from a mistaken believer a firearm emptied, safe, or disarmed when actually ready to be disposed of. This kind of misunderstanding can arise from a number of sources.

• Handling firearm errors. The handler can execute procedure steps such as loading, firing, and emptying in the wrong order or bypassing the procedure steps.
• Misunderstanding about the status of firearms. For example, a handler might think of safety as not. A round of ammunition may be left in the room or in the magazine while the handler thinks it is empty. Firearms may have been handled by others without the knowledge of the handler. A handler can receive a firearm and consider it under certain circumstances without checking whether the assumption is true. For example, when a handler interacts and passes a firearm between them, each avoids relying too much on "clear shows" from others. Person 1 can misjudge status; people 2 can not assume that "it's okay because people 1 have checked it".
• Mechanical failure. Wear, incorrect assembly, improper damage or design of firearms may cause them to malfunction properly. For example, security may have been obsolete to the point where it no longer functions. Parts that are damaged or worn on the trigger, burn or hammer/striker may have provided firearms "hair triggers" (very sensitive triggers). Firearms that are curved or bent may cause congestion or early release of ammunition. Sensitivity to impact may cause firearms to escape if they fall or hit another object.

If a handler always treats a firearm as a disposable ability at any time, the handler is more likely to take precautions to prevent unintentional release and to avoid damage or injury if it occurs.

Direct distance from non-targeted target

Also known as muzzle discipline , this rule is intended to minimize potential damage caused by unwanted discharges. While the first rule teaches that firearms should be assumed ready to shoot, this second rule goes beyond that and says, "Since fire may maybe turn on, suppose that it be > and make sure it does not there is a danger that occurs when it happens. "

The consequence of this rule is that any kind of play or "toying" with firearms is prohibited. Being playfully pointing firearms at other people or non-targets breaks these rules and may endanger life and/or property in the extreme. To prevent this kind of behavior, the rules sometimes alternately state, "Never show a firearm on anything unless you intend to destroy it.".

Two natural "safe" directions to aim the muzzle up (in the sky) and down (on the ground). Both have advantages and disadvantages of each. Shooting up the ground may cause bouncing or causing dangerous shards to be thrown into people or objects. Steering up will eliminate this risk but replace it with the risk that the bullet can cause damage when it falls to the ground again. Bullets fired straight back only at the speed of the bullet terminal. However, a bullet fired at a perfectly non-vertical angle will maintain its ballistic rotation and stability on the way down and can reach a much more deadly speed. Some accidents are reported to be caused by the use of firearms into the air; although evidence in some such cases has been debated, a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found 43 possible injury cases due to bullet falls during the 2004 New Year celebrations in Puerto Rico. It may also be that the muzzle is accidentally fixed on a non-target like a person's head or an airplane.

In cases where firearms are being handled indoors, up and down may not be a safe direction. For example, bullets fired up and down can cross the ceiling, floor, and plenum between the floors adjacent to the multi-story building. In indoor areas where firearms will often be handled, the appropriate safe direction shall be established. Shooting range often points in a safe direction for pointing firearms; almost universally this is a downrange to a backstop designed to contain bullets and eliminate potential ricochets. In arsenal or other areas where weapons should be handled, a container of sand known as "clearing keg" or "clearing can" is often used for this purpose; bullets that are accidentally dumped into the barrel will stop safely and contained by sand.

Keep your finger from the trigger

Also known as trigger discipline , this rule is intended to prevent unwanted releases. Usually firearms are released by pressing the trigger. The handler's finger may unknowingly move for several reasons: the handler is shocked, lack of full attention to body movements, physiological reasons beyond conscious control such as seizures, tripping or falling, or fingers pushed by something (like trying to holt a gun with one's finger on the trigger ). Therefore, the handlers are taught to minimize the harmful effects of such movements by keeping their fingers away and away from the trigger until the muzzle points at the target and the handler wants to release the firearm.

The trigger guard and receiving area on the trigger of a firearm presents a natural point for a handler to keep their finger straight alongside the weapon, so as not to violate this rule. Another recommendation is to keep the trigger finger on top of the trigger trigger, so there is little chance the finger unknowingly slips into the guard when shocked. Correctly indexed index finger also helps to remind the person holding the gun from the direction of the snout.

In popular culture, such as movies and TV shows, these rules are often violated, even by characters who must be trained in arms security such as military personnel or law enforcement officers.

Make sure the target and what's outside it

This rule is intended to eliminate or minimize collateral damage to non-targets when firearms are intentionally discarded. Accidental damage can occur if a non-target is misidentified as a target, if the target is missed, or if the bullet is about something or someone other than the intended target.

Handlers are taught that they must positively identify and verify their targets. In addition, they learn that even when firing on a valid target, unwanted targets may still be hit, for three reasons:

• The bullet might lose its intended target and hit a non-target target around or outside the target.
• Non-targets can pass in front of the target and be hit with a bullet aimed at the target.
• Bullets can bypass the intended target and hit the non-targets target, called "overpenetration".

Therefore, this rule requires a handler to "always be sure of your target, not just the target itself, but above, down, left, right, in front, and behind the target."

This can create a situation that presents a dilemma for a handler. Such situations are for example a police officer in a riot with observers, a civilian who faces an intruder in the night, or a soldier in a confrontation where civilians are near the enemy. Uncertainty or misrepresentation of the handler's ability in such situations may result in undesirable outcomes, such as injury to the handler in doubt, or the handler breaking the rules of engagement and causing undesirable damage.

Hunters are generally forbidden to shoot on roads and trails, or after dusk and before dawn, because of the risk of inadvertently hitting unwanted targets. All firearm releases are banned in some cities, partly because of the possibility of hitting unseen targets.

Training is used to minimize the risk of these outcomes. The target exercise increases the accuracy that the handler can use to release firearms and thus increases the likelihood of the intended target. The education of terminal ballistics gives the handler knowledge of bullet characteristics after the target is hit. This knowledge coupled with an insight into the capabilities of the handler itself makes it easier for the handler to make an informed decision about whether to dispose of it or not, even if given some time and/or severe stress.

Ammunition may be selected to reduce the risk of overpenetration; see Terminal ballistics, Stopping power, and Hollow point bullets.

Range of security rules

Organized ranges and shoots can apply additional safety rules to participants. For example, at its Applicability Clinic, Project Appleseed requires that a safety officer (RSO) use a weed barber to check every gunhole for a barrier before the first use for the day. Six steps are then always followed when the shooting round is over and the line is ready to go "cold" to allow post or check targets, or when the rifle is ready to be removed from the line: 1) out magazine; 2) retreat; 3) security; 4) flag room in; 5) swinging the rifle; 6) retreat; no one touched his rifle.

Open a bolt indicator, or a space flag, such as a yellow security flag distributed by the Civil Marksmanship Program or a green space flag distributed by the Appleseed Project may need to be inserted in the room to show free space.

The range can limit the type of ammunition used, such as prohibiting the use of bullets burners, trackers, or armor-piercing, or rounds that are stronger than those equipped with a handle. They may require the use of ear and eye protection. Alcohol is generally prohibited. Some ranges impose waiting periods for shooters who want to hire firearms, or ask them to bring a friend, to reduce the incidence of suicide. Range is recommended to appoint a range security officer to enforce these rules.

Range should be designed with safety considerations, including the use of appropriate backstops for the intended shooting type.

Maps Gun safety

Malfunction

Malfunction firearms can be caused by primer and/or powder, by mechanical failure, or by faulty handling.

Failed to malfunction

Malfunctions associated with firearm firing pins, or with primers and/or powders in the cartridge include failures to remove (misfires, "duds"), delayed discharge (fire-hangs), and incomplete or inadequate discharge (squibs). One shot is when the cartridge is not lit after being hit by an ignition pin. The fire hull is when the ignition pin strikes the cartridge, but there is a delay of a few seconds before the cartridge finally turns on. A squib is when a less powerful spin is fired, perhaps with an insufficient amount of powder in the case, and bullets going into the hole. If firearms are fired again, the barrel can peel back, damage the weapon and injure the shooter.

In each case, the shooter must wait for a certain period of time, usually recommended between 25 seconds, up to two minutes, with firearms pointing in a safe direction, then carefully removing magazines, extracting any wrongly misfeited or wrong shot cartridges ), and, with the breech opened carefully, check to make sure there are no bullets or other obstacles caught in the vial hole. If there is an obstruction, and the next round is fired, firearms can fail explosively resulting in serious injury. An improper circle must be disposed of properly, usually in a special container for live bullets that fail to fire after a kicking round; Such rounds should not be thrown away in the trash.

Error mechanical function

Mechanical damage to firearms includes slamfires, jams, firing pin releases, and breech failure or barrel to resist propellant.

The slam flame is when the cartridge lights up immediately after being muted, before triggering the trigger, and most often caused by floating pin shooting that becomes obstructed by debris, or by an incorrectly raised primer mounted on the cartridge case. Fire slam can also be caused by the use of a softer primer than is usually recommended.

The types of jams include failure to feed, extract, or remove cartridges; failure to fully cycle after shooting; and the failure of firearms operated or re-operated to lock back when empty (mostly procedural hazards, as "shear lock" is a visual cue that the supply of firearms ammunition is empty). When a jam occurs, the handler must be careful when the primary cartridge has been hit and that has been deformed in the congestion may unexpectedly unleashed (in "fire-hangs".) One method of rapidly cleaning semi-automatic jams Weapons are taps rack bang.

Firearms can also fire accidentally for several reasons, including dropping a weapon or when a firearm receives a violent mechanical shock. Similarly, accidental firing may occur due to the wrong trigger, or excessive heat buildup in the chamber that causes the cooking propellant. To prevent unintentional firing when firearms are dropped or jerked, experts often recommend using a modern firearm design that has safety features such as a bar transfer or pin pin shooting that prevents the firing pin from touching the primer unless the trigger is pinched. For older firearms without this feature, experts advise that they should be taken without a round in the room, or with shooting pins resting on empty space in case of revolvers.

Firearms may experience catastrophic failure ("kaBoom" or "kB") due to various causes, some caused by mismanagement and others by poor design, weakened parts or use of ammunition not designed by firearms, but which will be chamber and fire fixed. Barrels can become blocked by foreign objects, such as dirt, snow, or even water. For that reason, the muzzle should not be left resting on the ground or allowing it to accumulate rainfall. Another form of error handling is the use of cartridges that generate more pressure than firearms designed for it. This can happen through incorrect handloading, or use of overpressure ammo (P or P) or magnum load in firearms that are not valued for them.

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Storage

Proper storage prevents unauthorized use or theft of firearms and ammunition, or damage to them.

Pistol Safe

'Safe rifles' or 'gun cabinets' are commonly used to prevent access to firearms physically. Local laws may require special standards for locks, for the strength and robbery of cabinet thieves, and may even require weapons and ammunition to be stored separately.

Disassembly

Access to a functioning firearm can be prevented by keeping firearms dismantled and parts stored in separate locations. Sometimes, these rules are codified in law. For example, Swedish legislation requires the owner of a firearm to keep all firearms on a safe or locked weapons rack, or to lock "vital parts" (bolts, etc.) in a safe place.

Lock

There are several types of keys that serve to make it difficult to remove firearms. Locks are considered less effective than storing firearms stored in lockable safes because keys are more easily defeated than approved safes. An unauthorized handler can bypass locked weapons in their spare time. Some manufacturers, such as Taurus, build the key to the firearm itself.

Some experts recommend storing ammunition in a safe location away from firearms. Ammunition should be kept in a cool, dry state free from vapor contamination to prevent damage to propellant and cartridge. Handloaders should take special precautions to keep the primer and gunpowder loose.

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Secondary danger

While the main danger of firearms lies in the release of ammunition, there are other ways firearms can damage the health of the handler and the observer.

Noise

When a firearm is released, it emits a very loud sound, usually close to the handler's ear. This can cause temporary or permanent hearing damage such as tinnitus. Hearing protection such as earplugs (disposable or reusable) and/or earplugs (including electronic devices that amplify silent sound) may be used to reduce the risk of hearing loss. Firearms may also be equipped with a Sound Suppressor that cools the gas coming out of the barrel to make the volume safer for the handler's ear.

Gas and hot debris

Firearms emit hot gas, powders, and other impurities when disposed of. Some weapons, such as semi-automatic and automatic firearms, usually remove used cartridge cartridges at high speed. The casing is also very hot when removed. Revolvers keeps the used chassis inside the chamber, but it can expel the flow of hot gas and possibly splint particles subtly laterally from the interface between the rotary room and the gun barrel. All of these can injure the handler or observer through burning or collision damage. Because the eye is very susceptible to this type of damage, eye protection should be used to reduce the risk of injury. Recipe lenses and various tints to suit different light conditions are available. Some eye protection products are assessed to withstand collisions from bird burdens, which offer protection against irresponsible firearms used by other bird shooters.

Toxins and pollutants

In recent years the toxic effects of ammunition and firearm cleaning agents have been highlighted.

• The lead ammunition left in nature can become mobilized by acid rain.
• Older ammunition may have mercury-based primers.
• Lead accumulates in the backstop of the shooting ranges.

The indoor range requires good ventilation to remove pollutants such as powder, smoke, and lead dust from the air around the shooter. Indoor and outdoor ranges usually require extensive decontamination when they are disabled to remove all traces of lead, copper, and powder residue from the area.

Lead, copper and other metals will also be released when firearms are cleaned. Very aggressive solvents and other agents used to remove lead and powder seeps can also be harmful to health. Installation of good ventilation, hand washing after handling firearms, and cleaning up the space where firearms are handled reduce the risk of unnecessary exposure.

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Unsafe users

Affected users

Firearms should not be handled by people who are under the influence of alcohol or drugs that may affect their judgment. Pistol safety teachers do not support their tolerance of use. In the United States, this recommendation is codified in many state criminal codes as a "bring under" crime, with punishments similar to DWI/DUI. Other sources of temporary disturbance include fatigue, dehydration, and emotional stress. This can affect reaction times, cognitive processes, sensory perceptions, and judgments.

Many jurisdictions prohibit the possession of firearms by persons who are deemed unable to use them safely, such as mentally ill criminals or convicted persons.

Children

Children who are generally considered too young to be allowed to handle firearms can at all be taught a series of different rules:

• Stop.
• Do not touch.
• Leave the area.
• Tell adult.

The purpose of this rule is to prevent children from accidentally handling firearms. These rules are part of the Eddie Eagle program developed by the National Rifle Association for preschoolers through grade 6 students.

Whether a program like Eddie Eagle is effective has not been determined for sure. Several studies published in peer-reviewed journals show that it is very difficult for children to control their curiosity even when they have been taught not to touch a gun. Access to weapons is also a major risk factor for teen suicide. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) suggests that storing weapons at home, especially pistols increases the risk of injury and death for children and adolescents at home. If families keep weapons at home, the AAP suggests that the device be dismantled and locked, with ammunition locked in separate locations, and locks to locked boxes hidden.

Polls show that more than half of the parents who have no weapons never talk to their children aged 5-17 about gun safety. The ASK (Asking Saves Kids) campaign is based on the fact that many families with children have weapons, and almost half of these weapons are left unlocked or loaded. The ASK campaign urges parents to ask friends, neighbors, and family members if they have a keyless weapon at home before sending their children to the playground.

Older youth (age may vary per program, such as children aged 12-18 years) can take part in programs for safe handling of guns, as promoted by these organizations:

• 4H Shooting Sports Program
• Scouts from America
• Civil Marksmanship Program
• National Rifle Association
• Applicable Project

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See also

• Security area

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References

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External links

• GunProof - A website dedicated to helping gun-resistant children.
• LOK-IT-UP - A public awareness program that encourages safe storage of firearms.
• Overview of the National Institute of Justice Arms Technologies
• NRA Gun Safety Rules - Also related to issues such as eye and ear protection.
• ChildSafe Project
• [1] - Educate parents who have, or do not have weapons on the importance of teaching gun safety.
• Canadian page about ACTS and PROVE

Movie clip firearms accident

• DEA agents accidentally unleashed their weapons and injured themselves during a weapons security demonstration
• The finger on the trigger when tripping produces two accidental discharges
• Unintentional disposal while showing a gun

Source of the article : Wikipedia