NEW GUNS, USED GUNS, AND THE BASICS OF GUN SAFETY

Here at Dury’s, we’re proud to offer a fantastic selection of firearms for responsible, law-abiding citizens. We sell both new guns and used guns with pride and devotion to excellence. We want all of our customers to enjoy and to make good use of the weapons they buy from us. That’s why, this month, we’re going to spend time talking about gun safety. While most of this information will be nothing new for most of our readers, it’s still important from to time to review the basics, so that they’re never forgotten.

Gun Safety in Perspective

Studies show that, as a whole, the number of deaths and injuries from gun-related accidents is less than 600 per year. In a country where around 75 million adults own a firearm, that is an exceedingly small number. This is especially so when compared to other accidental causes of death and injury, as we see below:

• Deaths from traffic accidents average around 30,000 per year.
• Deaths from accidentally ingesting poisons and/or incorrect amounts of medication average around 36,000 per year.
• Deaths from drowning average around 3,500 per year.
• Deaths from fire or smoke average around 3,000 per year.
• Deaths from air or watercraft accidents average around 1,000 per year.

By using the logic of certain people in our society, the government should ban automobiles, swimming pools, all toxic substances, boats, aircraft, and flammable materials, because each of these things is involved in accidental deaths every year. So we see that banning guns isn’t the answer. 

On the other hand, the 600 accidental deaths that do occur every year should be just as unacceptable to the gun community. The best ways to prevent these senseless tragedies is by promoting thorough training in the essentials of gun safety, regardless of whether someone is the owner of one or many new or used guns. This will both save lives and deprive anti-gun groups of the sensationalized stories they use in their campaigns. Plus, it’s simply what responsible, community-minded citizens do. With that in mind, let’s begin our review of firearm safety basics.

Fundamental Rules of Gun Safety

• Treat every weapon as if it’s loaded at all times.
• Never, ever point a firearm at anyone or anything you don’t intend to shoot.
• Keep your fingers off the trigger and away from the trigger guard until and unless you’re prepared to shoot.
• When not in use, all firearms should be empty of ammunition, with the action open, or, in the case of revolvers, with the cylinder empty.
• Never receive or pass a firearm until you’ve confirmed that the action is open and the weapon is unloaded.
• Before you shoot, take a second to think about what you’re about to do. It can’t be undone afterwards.
• Make sure you understand completely how a firearm works before handling it. This includes knowing how it functions as well as where the safeties are. 
• Never engage in horseplay while a firearm is on your person.
• Only carry a firearm when you’re fully awake and alert. If you’re sleepy or under the influence of alcohol or drugs of any kind (legal or otherwise), then leave the gun safely at home or in your vehicle.
• Don’t keep a loaded firearm beside your bed if you have intense nightmares, if you sleepwalk, or if you have night terrors or other serious sleeping disorders.
• Always wear eye and ear protection when shooting, if possible.

Safety Rules when Hunting or Carrying Guns in the Field

• Make certain of your target before you fire. What you think is prey might actually be a child walking in the woods.
• Remember that shots can ricochet. For this reason, you should never fire at bodies of water, glass bottles, living trees, or at hard surfaces that may deflect the round.
• Don’t fire a weapon directly in the air. Even if the round doesn’t strike something going up, it’s still going to land on top of something or someone.
• Never shoot across public or private roads, hiking/bicycling trails, or any place where people or vehicles are likely to cross.
• Don’t shoot at road signs, private property markers, public notices, or anything you know better than to ever take a shot at. Use common sense.
• Always wear at least 1,000 square inches of blaze orange when in the field during hunting season.
• Never shoot an animal or other living thing “just for the fun of it.” Don’t shoot non-game animals unless they pose an imminent threat to humans, livestock, or other animals. Obey all hunting regulations.

Safety Rules for Gun Maintenance, Repairs, and Modifications

• Know how to properly clean and otherwise maintain each firearm you own. Follow all manufacturer-recommended maintenance schedules.
• Never attempt any type of gun repair or modification unless you have the tools and training to perform it safely and correctly. If in doubt, then have a qualified gunsmith do the job instead.
• Before using products such as aftermarket grips, holsters, etc., ensure that they’re compatible with your firearm and will in no way interfere with the weapon’s proper function.
• When unloading a weapon that has a magazine, drop the clip first, then eject the round in the chamber if there is one. Avoid removing ammunition round-by-round through the action.

Rules for Gun and Ammunition Storage

• Handguns should always be kept unloaded when in the home. Triggers should be secured by quality gun locks, and the guns themselves should be stored in a strong box or safe specifically designed for firearms storage.
• Ammunition should be stored in a strong box or safe specifically designed for this purpose. The ammunition should not be stored in the same location as the weapon.
• Do not simply hide guns or ammunition in high or hard-to-reach places, especially when there are children in the home. Kids are naturally curious and love to explore in places where they should never go. 
• Be wary of keeping firearms in the home if one of the residents is depressed, suicidal, or mentally ill. Every year, around 20,000 Americans commit suicide with a gun. Don’t let this happen in your house.
• If storing a gun for a long period of time, then consider removing the firing components entirely and storing them separately from the rest of the weapon.

Other Safety Rules to Keep in Mind

• When at the range, obey all the range officer’s commands without hesitation. If you hear someone yell “cease fire!” then do so instantly. Be a good example of a responsible firearms owner at all times when on the range.
• When using a semi-automatic handgun, keep all body parts away from the rear of the slide, the ejection port, and the muzzle.
• In the case of a misfire, point the weapon in a safe direction. Take your finger off the trigger, count to 10 slowly, then eject the bad cartridge.
• Never climb a tree, straddle a fence, or climb a hill or cliff face with a loaded firearm.

This link provides more information on the topic of gun safety, including a multi-page report on the subject you can print out for future reference. We encourage you to review it when you have a chance. In the meantime, take a few minutes to browse our fantastic selection of used handguns for sale online, used rifles for sale online, premier guns, and many other top-quality firearms. Everything we sell is thoroughly inspected, tested, and backed by our lifetime warranty.