Our current issue of "TSRA SPORTSMAN" carries a lead article on "The 4 Universal Gun Safety Rules Plus 13 More You Should Follow"
As I have numerous grandkids and several others I must teach, I read this with great interest.
The author completely missed several issues here. During my long careers of study & teaching, I learned that no basic rule can be improved by making it more complicated. So, what are considered as the "4" listed were 1) All weapons are ALWAYS "loaded". 2) Never point any gun in an unsafe direction 3) No finger on trigger until ready 4) Awareness of target and its surroundings. These may be stated with slight differences, but their meanings are consistent and "timeless".
One thing I learned from our Military is that when safety is the concern, always go back to the basics, first. No matter how experienced and rated a Pilot is, he/she must demonstrate basic aircraft handling skills FIRST, before beginning and series of more advanced "recurrency training" exercises.
Perhaps these time-honored and universally shared rules should be left alone, as all parties can agree on these.
The author then went-on to list some bakers' dozen more proposed "rules", which though good ideas, do not deserve the status of "commandments".
In all fields, basic safety begins with simplicity: Fly the airplane", Your GUN is always "loaded", "Leave several car-lengths", "Wear your steel toes & safety vest with the hard-hat", "Watch your step", No Dear, the dress doesn't make your butt look. . . . "
Easy to teach and easy to recall in times of stress when most-needed.
Were I to add a fifth "Rule", it would be this "You must speak-up immediately when you see anyone do something dangerous with a firearm!"
In this era of Millennials concerned over "feelings", trophies for everyone, and "there is no right or wrong way"; our young and everyone must accept the responsibility of immediately participating in our common safety by politely but firmly pointing-out errors of others. IMMEDIATELY !
Indeed, I have long-noted that real "Gun People" from all nations, regions, cultures, and backgrounds share the "4 rules" and TEACH their young.
The concepts embodied in these rules are taught from infancy in our Family. Our toddlers are not allowed to point toy weapons directly at one-another, even in their play-games.
Indeed, I once gave-up my long traditional RGV dove hunt with a group of Valley folks who had failed to teach their young properly. I clearly recall telling my Host that I couldn't continue in the midst of all the teeny-boppers and teens waving loaded shotguns about wildly in close quarters. He just shrugged it off. I departed.
The other 13 proposed "rules" may be important, but we may have legitimate disagreements, especially to degree, with some of them. And, they would confuse our teaching unnecessarily. Moi, I got off the "More is always better" bandwagon decades back
Since this topic is of vital and REAL life-threatening importance to us all, I solicit your sincere comments here.
leVieux
As I have numerous grandkids and several others I must teach, I read this with great interest.
The author completely missed several issues here. During my long careers of study & teaching, I learned that no basic rule can be improved by making it more complicated. So, what are considered as the "4" listed were 1) All weapons are ALWAYS "loaded". 2) Never point any gun in an unsafe direction 3) No finger on trigger until ready 4) Awareness of target and its surroundings. These may be stated with slight differences, but their meanings are consistent and "timeless".
One thing I learned from our Military is that when safety is the concern, always go back to the basics, first. No matter how experienced and rated a Pilot is, he/she must demonstrate basic aircraft handling skills FIRST, before beginning and series of more advanced "recurrency training" exercises.
Perhaps these time-honored and universally shared rules should be left alone, as all parties can agree on these.
The author then went-on to list some bakers' dozen more proposed "rules", which though good ideas, do not deserve the status of "commandments".
In all fields, basic safety begins with simplicity: Fly the airplane", Your GUN is always "loaded", "Leave several car-lengths", "Wear your steel toes & safety vest with the hard-hat", "Watch your step", No Dear, the dress doesn't make your butt look. . . . "
Easy to teach and easy to recall in times of stress when most-needed.
Were I to add a fifth "Rule", it would be this "You must speak-up immediately when you see anyone do something dangerous with a firearm!"
In this era of Millennials concerned over "feelings", trophies for everyone, and "there is no right or wrong way"; our young and everyone must accept the responsibility of immediately participating in our common safety by politely but firmly pointing-out errors of others. IMMEDIATELY !
Indeed, I have long-noted that real "Gun People" from all nations, regions, cultures, and backgrounds share the "4 rules" and TEACH their young.
The concepts embodied in these rules are taught from infancy in our Family. Our toddlers are not allowed to point toy weapons directly at one-another, even in their play-games.
Indeed, I once gave-up my long traditional RGV dove hunt with a group of Valley folks who had failed to teach their young properly. I clearly recall telling my Host that I couldn't continue in the midst of all the teeny-boppers and teens waving loaded shotguns about wildly in close quarters. He just shrugged it off. I departed.
The other 13 proposed "rules" may be important, but we may have legitimate disagreements, especially to degree, with some of them. And, they would confuse our teaching unnecessarily. Moi, I got off the "More is always better" bandwagon decades back
Since this topic is of vital and REAL life-threatening importance to us all, I solicit your sincere comments here.
leVieux
Last edited:
