Texas CHL Student Notes

IV. Weapon Storage and Child Safety

THREE BASIC RULES OF GUN SAFETY

1. Always point the muzzle in a safe direction.

How do I figure out what direction is 'safe'? Ask yourself: if the gun 'just went off', where would the bullet go? A safe direction is one in which the bullet will not cause unwanted injury or death. It is best if your safe direction is toward a soft backstop that will stop the bullet.

2. Keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot.

In spite of what we are told by news reporters, guns do not 'just go off'. The most common cause of an accidental discharge is having your finger on the trigger when handling the gun but not ready to shoot. Keep your finger off the trigger when clearing jams or loading your handgun. If you can't see a target over the sights, don't put your finger on the trigger.

3. Always keep your gun unloaded until ready to use.

At the range, leave your handgun unloaded until you are ready to begin shooting. Never, ever, lay a loaded handgun on a table or bench and walk downrange to check targets. Unloaded means: no ammunition in the gun, hammer down on an empty chamber. It does NOT mean a full magazine of ammunition in the gun and empty chamber. If any ammunition is in the gun, whether there is a round in the chamber or not, the gun is LOADED.

REMEMBER: to unload a semi-automatic pistol, first remove the magazine, then check the chamber to eject the live round (if one is chambered) and to verify that the chamber is empty. NEVER assume that a semi-automatic is unloaded simply by removing the magazine. ALWAYS check the chamber. Whenever you pick up a firearm, check it. If you hand a firearm to someone, check it. If someone hands you a firearm, check it. It is considered 'bad form' to hand someone a loaded firearm.

Off the range, the only reasons to have firearms loaded are for self-defense and hunting. In both cases the guns should be under your immediate and direct control. Loaded guns should not be left lying around where unsupervised, untrained people can access them. This only leads to accidents.

STORAGE OF FIREARMS

In the Home There are many different options for safe storage of firearms in the home. One of the best is a gun safe. Trigger locks, smaller lock boxes, and locking gun cases can also be used to prevent firearms from being accessed by unauthorized and untrained persons. When not in use for self-defense, firearms should be stored unloaded and the ammunition should be stored in a separate location.

While Traveling When not in use for self-defense, firearms should be stored unloaded, locked in your trunk. Using a lock box or trigger lock will add one more level of security to prevent your guns from being handled without your permission or knowledge.

On or about the person Firearms kept ready for self-defense can be carried in holsters on the hip, shoulder, ankle, or other location. Special fanny packs, briefcases, backpacks, and purses are also manufactured with compartments for handguns. Permit holders must make a 'reasonable effort' to conceal their handguns. Failure to do so is an offense.

OTHER SAFETY INFORMATION

Ignorance and Carelessness are the major causes of accidents.

Ignorance means lack of training. Without proper training most people emulate the dangerous and improper gun handling that they have learned from television. Inevitably this results in accidental discharges, injuries and deaths.

Carelessness results from complacency and familiarity. Becoming an experienced gun handler or shooter does not exempt you from the basic rules of gun safety. Always be conscious of your trigger finger and muzzle direction.

Be sure the gun is safe to operate. If you are not sure, have a gunsmith inspect the gun before firing it.

Understand how the action of your gun operates.

Always use the correct ammunition for your gun.

An NRA basic class, such as those offered by KR Training instructors, is an excellent way to get a solid foundation in all aspects of firearms ownership and operation.

Always use eye and ear protection. Any time you fire a gun without hearing protection, you do permanent damage to your hearing. The threshold of pain is 120 dB, and the average sound level from a handgun exceeds 150 dB. Hunting rifles can reach 180 dB or higher. Always wear hearing protection when you go the range. Foam earplugs provide the best performance (34 dB) if properly installed. They must be rolled up and inserted in the ear canal and allowed to expand to a tight seal. Simply poking them in your ears is ineffective. Foam plugs provide no protection against bone conduction, which mostly occurs with long guns when the blast is transmitted through the stock of the gun to the skull. For long gun shooting, muffs are a better choice.

When shooting indoors, use both plugs and muffs. Sound levels increase dramatically in enclosed spaces. Eye protection is mandatory at any sanctioned competition and at most professionally run ranges. Every time you fire a gun you are setting off an explosion in front of your face. If anything goes wrong with your firearm or ammunition shrapnel may be thrown into your eyes. Glasses also prevent hot brass from semi-autos and bullet fragments from the cylinder gap of revolvers from hitting you in the eyes.

Alcohol and guns do not mix. This is also true of illegal narcotics, and prescription medications that have warnings about operating heavy machinery. Never use a firearm when your judgment is impaired.

TEACHING CHILDREN ABOUT FIREARMS

The best way to educate children about firearms in the home is to remove the mystery: allow the children to handle the guns and shoot whenever they express an interest. Whether they are curious about firearms or not they should understand enough basics to safely handle and unload (not load or shoot) your firearms. If your guns are 'forbidden fruit' it is more likely that your children will try to access them when you are not present.

TRAINING THE FAMILY

Whether they are interested in firearms or not, every member of a family (or roommates) living in a home with guns should know enough to safely handle and unload the guns that they might find in the house. This basic training will significantly reduce the likelihood of an accident.

RESPONSIBILITY OF GUN OWNERSHIP

It is your responsibility as a gun owner to ensure that your guns are kept out of the hands of unauthorized and untrained people, and that your family and friends know the basics of gun safety.