Real World Firearms Safety
By Larry Vickers & Vickers Tactical
Fayetteville, NC –-(Ammoland.com)- One thing I like to highlight in my classes is ‘real-world’ firearms safety- not the firearms safety that an NRA-certified instructor reads off a little card he carries in his wallet but gun safety as it applies to you in the world we live in.
The world is full of lawyers that would like nothing more than to take everything you own. With that in mind here goes;
Accuracy Is King
1) In the real world there are no paper targets or 12-foot earth berms behind the target. On the two-way range of life, the targets shoot back and the best backstop you can hope to have is the upper torso of the bad guy you are dealing with. This is yet another reason why accuracy is king in the real world and always remember when you pull the trigger you own the bullet you just launched- good or bad.
Danger: Loaded & Unloaded Weapons
2) Treat every weapon as if is loaded at all times; read that last part again– at all times!! We know this is important but people don’t do it. Something in our brain says that once the gun is ’empty’ it is inert and we can point it anywhere we want to – this is dangerous as all we have to be is wrong one time and a life-changing event could happen.
This is actually the most commonly violated safety rule of them all.
Muzzle Awareness
3) Muzzle awareness; goes hand in hand with #2 – always ask yourself ‘what if this weapon were to discharge right now?’
You want the answer to be ‘my ears would be ringing but no one would be hurt’. This one can’t be over-emphasized because in the real world LE and the Military sweep people with their muzzles all the time as a matter of doing business- in some cases it can’t be avoided. My theory is you need to know where the gun is pointing at all times and only sweep someone if it is absolutely necessary- in the civilian sector it rarely is, if ever.
Finger OFF the Trigger Stupid
4) Finger OFF the trigger until ready to fire. This is The Golden Rule – the firearms safety law that allows you to use and handle weapons on a regular basis without harming yourself or someone else. And the rule that is mandatory in this day and age; case in point the is Glock handguns – the most popular in the world and pistols with a trigger safety switch, requires you to put this rule into practice each and every time you handle one.
Not only is firearms safety everyone’s responsibility you have to practice it 24/7 – you have to remain diligent and never let your guard down- remember it only takes one mistake to change your life or someone else’s life forever.
Stay safe and stay shooting!
LAV out.
About Larry Vickers:
Larry Vickers is a retired career special operations soldier with 20-plus years of service to our country. A longtime 1st SFOD- Delta operational member, he was a key player in the small arms marksmanship expertise and weapons selection of that Unit. He brings a very unique set of skills to the market and has a wide and varied background in the firearms industry.
Visit www.vickerstactical.com
