3 Responsible Firearm Practices

One of the reasons you have to take a firearm safety course is so that you understand why owning a firearm is such a big responsibility. A firearm safety course goes over many aspects of being a firearm owner. For example, you will learn how to properly store your firearm and ammunition in separate locations. You will also learn about how to be a responsible firearm owner. Below are 3 responsible firearm practices everyone should follow.

• Respect – You must always have respect for firearms and what they can do. Do not ever forget that firearms can both injure and/or kill. Whether you own a firearm to protect your family or because you enjoy going to a firing range it is extremely important that you respect the dangers that come with shooting a firearm. That means being extra cautious when storing your firearm. You should never store your firearm and the ammunition together. Your firearm should always have a lock on it even when it is placed in locked storage.
• Awareness – When you are holding a firearm, whether it is loaded or not, you must be aware, at all times where you are pointing your firearm. Your firearm should be directed in a safe direction. A safe direction means that should the firearm accidentally discharge it will not injure or kill anyone. For example, if you are on a shooting range and they are changing out the targets your firearm should not be directed down range. It should be pointed in a direction where there are no people, for example towards the ground.
• Desire – It would be very easy to get lax when it comes to properly handling and storing your firearm. People get comfortable and don’t feel that anything bad could ever happen. A person must have the desire to keep themselves and their families safe, year after year. A person must have the desire to follow the firearm safety laws that are put in place to keep themselves and others safe.

Being a firearm owner is a responsibility that if taken seriously can allow you to protect your family and/or enjoy going to the shooting range. If you respect what the firearm is capable of doing you will always be sure it is locked and stored properly. If you are aware of where you’re pointing your firearm at all times you will avoid injuring or possibly killing someone. And if you have the desire to keep your family safe you will follow the firearm safety laws.

Those laws were put in place to help firearm owners understand their responsibilities. Those laws are there to help protect you, the firearm owner and anyone who will be near or around the firearm.

If you follow the 3 responsible firearm practices listed above you will give you and your family the best chance of staying safe around your firearm(s). That is the ultimate goal, to protect your family.