Due to the comparatively lenient gun laws of the country, gun ownership is prevalent in the US. According to research conducted by Pew Research Center, 30 percent of Americans reported owning a gun. Sixty-seven percent of gun owners do so for protection purposes.
Regardless of why you own a gun, the fact remains that one must ensure that they use and handle it properly. If not, it can lead to accidental discharge and hence injuries. The statistics for accidental discharge are quite grim.
For instance, in 2016, as per the CDC, over 161,000 casualties were caused by accidental shooting. Over 1.7 million minors live in houses that have unlocked loaded guns. And in 2015, approximately 2800 children, between the ages of 0 and 19, died due to gunshots.
Here are weapon handling tips you must follow to prevent such tragedies from happening and protect yourself and your family from accidental discharge.
Treat every gun as if it is loaded
Just because you have unloaded your weapon doesn’t mean you should treat it recklessly. You never know if a bullet has remained in the chamber. One wrong move when handling a gun can prove to be injurious.
Hence, make sure to treat your weapon as if it was loaded. Don’t point it at someone, nor keep your finger on the trigger unless you plan on pulling it.
Avoid repairing your weapon on your own
Yes, DIY projects are great, and one should know how to repair and maintain their items. However, a potentially deadly weapon is not one of them. This is because accidental discharges can happen if you improperly clean a weapon.
Unless you are a trained professional yourself, it is better to leave the repair and maintenance of firearms to gunsmiths. You will easily find experts within your area or city. A mere search on the internet will be enough to connect with experts.
For instance, if you live in Oklahoma, search for a gunsmith in Oklahoma City and select the best one, as per reviews and services offered.
Get professional training
It is not enough to watch a few videos of handling weapons. Neither can you rely on amateurs to teach you how to handle a weapon. Instead, you need professional training to ensure that you are well-versed with the various golden rules of using a firearm.
Again, you will find training courses in most cities in the US. These classes don’t just cover how to operate a gun but also how it must be stored and cleaned. Hence, they are ideal for learning how to handle a weapon.
Use the right ammunition
Different guns require a different type of ammunition. There is no standard ammo for it all. However, unless you know which type of ammunition is required for your weapon, you might end up getting duped.
So, understand your weapon when you purchase it. Check the instruction manual as well as gun manufacturer markings when buying ammunition. Using the wrong ammunition can lead to your weapon malfunctioning. And it takes merely one wrong cartridge to wreck your firearm.
Gun safety features exist but should not be relied upon
Every firearm, whether it be a shotgun or a rifle, comes with safety features to make the experience as safe as possible. For instance, triggers come with locks.
While this reduces the risk of accidental discharge, remember that no safety feature is full-proof. You cannot rely solely on it. Just because there is a trigger lock on your gun doesn’t mean you should put your finger on the trigger for fun.
You never know when the different features of the gun malfunctions. Instead, it is advised to treat the gun as if it is unsafe and does not have any safety features. Assume that it can fire at any moment.
Lock it up
A lot of accidental deaths occur, especially among children, because they are able to find the weapons of their parents. In fact, as per CBS, 3 out of 4 children who reside in houses with guns know where the guns are kept.
Regardless of whether you keep your gun unloaded or have all its safety features intact, your child must never be able to access your gun. You must lock it up safely.
Clear your barrel
The barrel of your gun should be clear of any obstruction when you are loading it. There should be no residual ammunition in the chamber. Additionally, any snow, lubricating oil, or mud should be cleaned beforehand.
This is because any obstructions in the barrel can increase the pressure inside the gun and lead to accidental burst on firing.
After you clean it and fire your weapon, check to see if the recoil or the noise of the gun is weak. If it is, it means that there are still obstructions within the barrel. Make sure to cease firing immediately.
Know your weapon inside out
No two types of weapons are the same. A shotgun is starkly different from a handgun. You cannot use standard handling and carrying method for them all. Instead, it must vary as per the mechanical features of the gun.
Before you equip yourself with a firearm, learn as much about the type of gun you like as you can. Learn how to handle it safely. Understand what procedures you must follow to unload, load, handle, and carry it. For instance, handguns must be carried on an empty chamber with the hammer pointing downwards.
Parting Advice: Handle with care!
All in all, to protect yourself and those around you from accidental discharge, you must handle your gun with immense care.
Memorize the eight gun handling tips. When in doubt about the performance of your gun, consult a gunsmith.
Guns can only be a tool for your protection when you are able to handle them safely. So, be careful!
Do you think there are any other handling tips that gun owners must follow? Let us all know below.
Author bio
Andrea Bell is a blogger by choice. She loves to discover the world around her. She likes to share her discoveries, experiences and express herself through her blogs. You can find her on Twitter:@IM_AndreaBell
