*Gun Safety* Read this post before any others!

There is a lot of talk about firearms so a post on safety is long overdue. The absolute first rule is to ignore everything you have ever saw in a movie, 99% percent is either dangerous or false. Jeff Copper promoted 4 simple rules that if followed would make negligent discharges non existant. These 4 rules are easily remembered and easily followed so we'll start with them.

1) ALL guns are ALWAYS loaded, even if they're not.
This means to treat EVERY gun as if it were loaded, even if you just removed the magazine, cleared the chamber and checked 3 times. You always treat it as if it were loaded. There have been too many people shot with "empty" guns, and I don't want my fellow NOZOMBIES members to be one of them.

2) NEVER let the muzzle cover anything you do not wish to destroy.
People are at the top of this list, followed by animals and inanimate objects. Always be aware of where the barrel is pointed, like not resting the barrel of a shotgun on your foot or doing dryfiring exercises in the direction of your favorite painting.

3) Be sure of your target and what is behind it.
Most of your shooting will be at a range with a steel/concrete/earth berm as a backstop and a bullseye as your target. If hunting, make sure you know absolutely what it is you are shooting at, too many people have been shot, "mistaken" for a squirrel, and too many times you hear of a family member mistaken for a burglar. If you can't see it don't shoot it and never, ever, EVER shoot at a noise. If no official range is available in a rural area make sue to set your targets so that you shoot into a bank or side of a hill.

4) Keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to fire.
Pretty self explanatory. You have identified your target, you know what's behind it and where the bullet will stop, you raise the gun and aim. Only after making sure all other 3 rules are followed do you slip your finger inside the trigger guard and begin to squeeze the trigger. If you have your finger on the trigger and are startled, you could accidentally send a bullet down range, possibly at something or someone very dear to you.

If everyone were trained and followed these 4 simple rules, there would never be another "accidental shooting" again. You may find these listed in a different order or with slightly different wording elsewhere, but the meaning is the same. Some other safety rules are

Obey the law. If you don't like the laws, lobby to have them changed, don't break them and make it worse on the rest of us.

Always wear eye and hearing protection. Your eyesight is one of the most valuable assets you have, and your eyes are also one of the most easily injured body parts you have. Glasses not only can correct your vision if you have poor eyesight, but can offer assistance with different lighting conditions, like sunglasses on a bright day. Make sure they fit you well, to block gasses and particles, are specified shooting or safety glasses and comfortable to wear. You may want to buy several pairs, or a set with interchangeable lenses for different lighting conditions. Hearing protection comes in the form of plugs or muffs. Earplugs can be single or multiple use products. I buy large boxes of 100 pairs of disposable earplugs to keep for friends who drop by and want to shoot. I also have some soft rubber earplugs and several sets of earmuffs. Make sure these fit, I have 2 pairs of earmuffs that make my head (which is rather large) feel like it's in a vise, likewise if they fit loosely they may not block out sounds as well. It's also a good idea to keep a few alcohol pads with your muffs or reusable plugs for hygienic purposes.

When someone else is shooting, always stand behind them. If you are beside them and an accident happens, parts could strike you. Brass ejecting from the gun is hot enough that it can cause second degree burns. Gas and unburned powder could also be sprayed in you face, but that would not bother you since you have safety glasses on don't you, but still better safe than sorry. It goes without mentioning that you don't want to be in front of the shooter.

One thing I have not heard mentioned anywhere else is to be careful with sharp edges. With stamped parts and a lack of hand polishing nowadays, it's very easy to cut a thumb while cleaning with the jagged edge of a receiver. I've did it on 2 different rifles.

Be careful when cleaning in general. If at all possible, clean from the breech of the barrel. It helps keep the muzzle away from your general direction and is generally better for the crown of the barrel as well. If disassembling a "striker fired" pistol or any gun that requires you to dryfire the gun, follow rules 2 and 3 when doing so.

Make sure you are familiar with the operation of the specific gun you are using. If it is newly acquired, read the manual included, or if bought used write the manufacturer for a manual. If a friend is allowing you to fire their gun, make sure they explain all the controls to you before handling. While some guns may look similar, they may operate differently. For example a Mossberg 500 and Remington 870 are bot pump shotguns and appear similar, however the safeties and slide release are in different locations. Some one familiar with one model may be totally lost if handed the other.

Make sure you use the proper ammunition. Several chamberings will look very similar, some may even have the EXACT same outside dimensions, but vary greatly in pressure produced. Check the side if the slide/barrel to find what the gun is chambered for. Check the headstamp of your cartridges to make sure they are the proper caliber. If you are unsure, don't fire the gun.

Make others around you aware of safety. If someone keeps their finger on the trigger the entire time they are clearing a stovepipe jam, point it out to them. Chances are they knew not to do it, but were not paying attention. Everyone can use a little refresher every now and then. Carry an extra pair of glasses and some cheap foam earplugs with you. When you see someone shooting without eye or hearing protection, offer your extra pair to them. It's worth a few dollars to know you helped someone. You may even make a new friend, get offered to shoot their rifle, be offered a thank you or simply be blown off. Some people are stubborn and hate to admit they are wrong, but we should still try to help one another.

If there are any questions you ever have, feel free to ask. There are several members here at NOZOMBIES who are very knowledgeable and informative about firearms. Don't be afraid of being laughed at for a question, here or with friends at the range, if anyone makes fun of the question of you, think about this. Do you really want to hang around with people who would make light of your personal safety? Remember, the ONLY stupid question is the one you didn't ask