To find out the precise numbers from the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System, we should wait at least one more week, though everything points that the amount of new gun owners reaches hundreds of thousands. Perhaps, some of these owners have never carried a firearm until they queued, waited in line with groups of people and ended up buying a gun. Now let’s dig into the principles of gun security.
Presently, they stay at home or may even be quarantining.
Never mind, anyone that possesses a gun for the first time already belongs to the community of 100 million Americans, carrying and using their firearms in a secure and reasonable way. To ensure the effective and safe usage of them, gun owners should follow certain hands-on rules.
The four rules
There are four must-know principles for any gun owner that need to be kept in mind unconditionally:
- Keep it pointed in a safe direction all the time.
- Hold your finger off the trigger unless you are all set to shoot.
- Always treat a firearm like you would a loaded one. Keep it unloaded till the moment of usage.
- Be aware of your target and what lies beyond it.
According to the 10 Weapon Safety Commandments by NSSF, except the first 4 there are also 6 additional rules that need to be followed:
- Use proper ammo.
- If the firearm doesn’t fire, keep it securely pointing, unload it and then check what the problem is.
- Take measures to protect your eyes and ears when shooting
- Make sure the barrel is free from obstructions before firing. Don’t look into the firearm’s muzzle end.
- Never modify or adjust your weapon, regularly get it serviced.
- Know technical properties and the handling of the firearm you are using.
Every gun owner should seek to securely store their firearms in the house. Whether carried or being used, guns must be held out of control of anyone who should never own them. This ensures that minors, prohibited persons and those at risk of injuring themselves cannot have access to firearms. NSSF and our colleagues at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention gave some advice on how to get through a tough situation and encouraged anyone lonely or having a hard time to contact The Crisis Text Line by sending TALK to 741741 or National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK.
Safe storage
The ways gun owners ensure secure storage depends on preferences that are expected to evolve in parallel with their habits. Everyone that owns a firearm should determine their needs and the proper approach to address them best. On the NSSF channel, there are videos for new gun owners to figure out which approach is better tailored to their case.
For any new firearm, the usage of cable lock manufacturers is a simple yet efficient approach. In case of appropriate employment, this lock can pass through the action of the firearm, making it inoperable. NSSF’s Childsafe Initiative consistently delivers weapon security kits to law enforcement that include a free cable lock. In the scope of the project, more than 38 million kits were delivered to over 15,000 law enforcement departments for 20 years. If a firearm owner wants a lock, it can be found in many police agencies or bought cheaply from a nearby weapon store.
Alternative options include safety or lockboxes, small key and electronic combination entry safes, biometric and standard upright safes for the storage of several weapons. NSSF encourages all gun owners to store their guns in a responsible manner.
Usage instructions
The user guide of any new firearm must be read and completely understood by gun owners. Many vendors make their user guides accessible on the internet if the weapon bought has been used. Read the manual thoroughly to get everything right. Anyone that possesses a gun should be definitely aware of how to load and unload weapons properly, employ safety measures and always apply the four basic rules on firearms safety.
Due to the panic about Covid-19, for the first time, some
people decided to exercise their Second Amendment and
self-defense rights. The NSSF and law-abiding gun owners
across the country want to securely and responsibly unite
the owners of firearms.
If local or national regulations do not restrict movement, all new firearm owners are highly encouraged by NSSF to get acquainted with their guns. Select a nearby range and tell the people employed there about the recent purchase. Many operators of the range tend to help new gun owners with guns to make sure they’ll have a secure and enjoyable experience.
Online training
Choose well-known and professional guidance. Local shooting ranges are superior in this field. Almost all of them offer some form of exposure to guns. NSSF offers them a full variety of First Shots services that make the introduction of guns for new owners. At LetsGoShoting.org, NSSF has tools in case of further help. It has a New Shooters section and an interactive map for learning where to aim.
New owners ordered tools available to remain at home as well. In the arms business, Ryan Cleckner is a well-known figure – a retired Army Ranger sniper, weapon attorney and author of the Long Range Shooting Handbook. He founded GunUniversity.com and acknowledged that many potential gun owners won’t get the ability to get to a range right now. Cleckner’s Gun 101 website has therefore been updated to help prospective owners discover various kinds of firearms, learn how to carry a gun securely and how to unload, practice guns through blog posts and video tutorials.
Everyone that recently got a gun should know that they are welcome to join our lawful community of gun owners. We are really concerned with rising responsible, committed and protected citizens who carry and use their guns safely and in an incident-free manner. To find proven and efficient approaches for gun protection, you can get some information on Real Ideas for Safer Communities of the firearms industry. Moreover, owners can get to know better about the gun owners’ community at NSSF’s Gun Owners Care.
Have you just got your gun? Do you have any advice on firearm security or training? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!