• Firearm safety is paramount in any shooting activity.security guard with gun image by jedphoto from Fotolia.com
  
  Firearms are enjoyed by millions of people worldwide. Properly handled, they are a great pastime. In irresponsible or unsafe hands, they can be deadly. There are four rules that are considered the unbreakable commandments of gun safety at shooting ranges, shooting events, gun shows, hunting safety courses and just about anywhere that firearms are handled. No matter which shooting activity you pursue, follow the four basic rules of firearms safety to keep yourself and those around you safe from harm.
  
  

All Guns Are Always Loaded, Even When They're Not

• Because a mistake with a firearm can be fatal, always exercise extra caution with guns. Treating all guns as if they are loaded at all times ensures that you are never careless because you believe there is no ammunition in your weapon. Handle an unloaded firearm in the same way you would handle a loaded one; you never know when you or someone else might be mistaken about whether a gun is loaded.
  
  

Don't Point Your Weapon at Anything You're Not Willing to Destroy

• While a well-maintained modern firearm is not capable of "going off all by itself," human error leaves a lot of room for mistakes. Shooters use the terms "accidental" or "negligent discharge" to describe a situation where the weapon handler caused a gun to fire unintentionally. If you steadfastly take care to only point your weapon in a safe direction or at your target and you cause a negligent discharge, you will never have to worry about the bullet striking something you will regret shooting.
  
  

Keep Your Finger off the Trigger Until You're Ready to Fire

• Once you pull the trigger, you can't call the bullet back. If you never even touch the trigger until you know you are ready to fire your weapon, you can never be in a situation where you caused the weapon to fire by accident. If you are ready to shoot, by all means, pull the trigger. At all other times, the proper place for your trigger finger is fully extended along the side of your weapon, just above the trigger area. Train your finger to stay there until it becomes a habit.
  
  

Always Be Sure of Your Target and What's Behind It

• It seems silly to say, but bullets can kill things. Bullets also go through a great many materials. Before you fire, double check what you are shooting at and also what is behind it. Many hunters have been killed because another hunter did not follow this rule and mistook their fellow hunter for a deer, and fatal accidents have been caused by target shooters who did not consider what would stop their bullets after they went through a paper target. Be sure your intended target is backed by a solid object that is guaranteed to stop a bullet, such as a hill or berm.