Possibly you thought you’d by no means even own a gun until recently. Or you fired your cousin’s shotgun that one day out on the farm 20 years ago and need a refresher before taking on the intense responsibility of gun ownership.
Millions of individuals of all walks of life have been buying firearms in record numbers as more rational folks reject the tradition war round this topic and acknowledge the necessity for self defense is still very real, even in an ‘advanced’ society. Women, liberals, cityites, and other people of shade are a number of the fastest rising teams of firearm owners, for example.
Regardless of politics or background, you are welcome here. We consider in modern and accountable gun ownership — and think our communities and civil debates will be a lot better off if people at the very least accurately understood the topic of firearms before arguing about or fearing them.
Critical gun safety guidelines
Earlier than we talk about anything else, you should commit to these easy however crucial guidelines:
Deal with each firearm as if it’s loaded till you personally know it isn’t.
Only point the firearm at things you’re willing to destroy.
Always be certain of your goal and what’s behind it.
Only put your finger on the set off / inside the trigger guard if you find yourself ready to fire.
Modern, quality firearms do not just fire on their own, even when dropped or bumped. 99.9% of gun accidents are caused by human error. By strictly following these guidelines, you don’t allow the circumstances where something bad can happen to begin with.
And it’s not the sort of thing the place individuals get more relaxed with these guidelines as they turn into more skilled — in reality, probably the most advanced gun owners are typically the most stubborn about these rules because they know how vital this framework is. That’s why you’ll hear old timers angrily call out things like “muzzle self-discipline!” on the shooting range when someone new waves their barrel in the fallacious direction.
It is your responsibility that firearms are safe, secure, and locked away from people or children who shouldn’t get to them. There are 1.7 million children in the US that live in houses with loaded but unlocked firearms. There are sometimes serious authorized punishments if you are careless with a gun, like leaving a loaded gun the place a small child can access it.
The basic steps and equipment you want
For those who just need to go from “by no means had a gun” to “the naked minimum to protect myself and be accountable”, this is a typical set of needed gear and steps to take:
Read this guide and the perfect first guns guide so you may have general concepts of what you want to end up with.
Go to a neighborhood gun store or shooting range where you possibly can work with a salesperson or teacher to attempt firing some weapons earlier than choosing which to buy.
Higher but, go with a trusted buddy who can loan you and teach you with their gear.
When you buy, the firearm should come with a wire safety lock that loops by means of the chamber and magazine, making it physically incapable of firing. It may also come with a very good-enough storage/carrying case you need to use until shopping for a proper one.
Should you live in a household with at-risk individuals (kids, suicidal, handicapped), get a lockbox or gun safe to keep the gun and ammo out of the unsuitable hands.
Buy ammo. You’ll use a minimum of a couple of hundred rounds to observe with and get to know your weapon. It’s okay to purchase cheaper rounds while you’re learning the ropes.
Read the guide to learn to make your particular firearm safe, tips on how to load and unload it, whether the manufacturer suggests any steps for breaking it in, and how to perform a fundamental “subject cleaning” (the upkeep you’ll do after a day of shooting).
Buy a gun cleaning kit particular to your caliber.
You’ll want ear and eye protection (unless you wear sturdy glasses).
Sign up for an area newbie’s class, which might be so simple as a one-hour lesson on a weekend afternoon. When you go to a shooting range outside of an organized class, don’t be afraid to ask for help.
You don’t must grow to be a gun-slingin’ marksman, however you do must feel proficient. A chaotic, emotional emergency shouldn’t be the time to be fumbling with a gun. Spend just a few days learning the fundamentals, and attempt to mud off the cobwebs annually — shooting accurately and safely is a diminishable skill, which means it needs a little apply as soon as in a while.
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