The Tactical Edge – August

This month, we’re going to talk about what to do after you have purchased that new firearm.  The most important thing to do is to read the Manual before anything else happens.  The Manual is going to explain all of the safety implications concerning your new firearm and also refresh your memory on the general safety requirements of owning and using a firearm.  Even if you are a longtime shooter, it is important to review safety and handling procedures.  I have found that people tend to get comfortable and complacent after they have been shooting for a longtime.  The most important aspect of owning and using a firearm is Safety.  This is especially important for beginners because they have not been previously exposed to the safety issues involving a firearm.  Here’s a quick review of the main points of safety regarding firearms:

* Never point any firearm, loaded or unloaded, at anything you don’t intend to shoot.

* Always treat a firearm as if it is loaded.

* Keep your finger off the trigger until you are actually ready to shoot.

* Always unload your firearm before you attempt to clean it.

* When shooting, be aware of your target and what is behind it.  If the bullet passes thru the backstop, anything behind it is in danger.

* Always load and unload your weapon with the muzzle pointed in a safe direction.

* Always check your ammunition to be sure it is the right size and caliber for your weapon and also that it is not dented or defective. 

* If you’re firearm fails to fire, do not pull the trigger, keep it pointed at the target for at least 30 seconds or longer.  You could have a misfire or hang fire.  In that event, the round may still discharge.

* When giving a firearm to someone else, always check that it is unloaded and safe.  When receiving a weapon from someone else, always check it for yourself even if you witnessed them checking it.

NOTE:   If you ever suspect that you fired a round and the bullet did not clear the barrel, unload the weapon immediately and give it to someone who is trained to safely remove the object.  Firing it after this happens can cause the gun to explode and cause serious injury.

When storing your weapon, always make certain that it is in a location that is not accessible by children or other people that should not be handling it.  The best place to store a weapon is in a gun safe or securely locked cabinet.  The alternative is using an approved firearm lock.  Almost all new firearms today are shipped from the factory with an approved locking mechanism in the box.  Make sure you install it in the manner shown in the Manual.  Lastly, make sure you store your firearm separately from your ammunition.

In my experience, I have found that the best way to protect a child from an accidental shooting is to give them an adequate amount of training in gun safety.  That gives them a familiarity with the firearm and takes the awe and wonder out of it.  Teach them what a firearm is capable of doing to a person or object so that they understand why it is so dangerous to touch.  Make them aware that it is their responsibility to immediately notify an adult if they find a firearm not securely stored.  When they’re old enough to do so, take them to an approved range and let them shoot.  This should only be done after they have been thoroughly trained in handling and operating a firearm.  Afterwards, teach them how to disassemble and clean the firearm.  Not everybody will agree with me on this.  I have trained many children to shoot firearms in FFA and Hunter Safety classes.  If done thoroughly, the child can be as safe as any adult.  This also depends on the age and intellectual development of the child.Some children are not even safe at age 40.  We probably all know someone like that.

The next step after all of the safety instructions and procedures should be the cleaning procedure.  All firearms are shipped from the factory with a coating of oil or grease to protect them.  This is not the same lubricant that you would use after cleaning your firearm.  It can cause the ammunition to not feed correctly and also affect the accuracy of the firearm.  A thorough cleaning before the first use will also give you a chance to become familiar with the functioning of the weapon to see if there are any mechanical issues.

And now that we’ve covered all the serious issues, pack up that firearm along with a case of ammo and hit the shooting range.  It’s time to burn some gun powder.  Oh yeah, don’t forget to clean the gun again when you’re done.  It sounds tedious, but in the long run, you’ll be glad you did.  Your firearm will work better and last longer.  Next month, I will try to get some more humor in the blog.  These last two blogs have had pretty serious content that does not lend itself well to humor.