The Four Rules of Firearm Safety

Every serious firearms course, military or civilian, starts with the same few rules. They overlap on purpose: an accident needs two of them broken at once. Here they are as the U.S. Marine Corps teaches them in its pistol manual.

Rule 1: Treat every weapon as if it were loaded

Even if you “just checked it.” Even if someone handed it to you and said it was empty. Every negligent shooting involves a gun someone believed was unloaded.

Rule 2: Never point a weapon at anything you do not intend to shoot

Always know where the muzzle is pointing, and keep it in a safe direction: while handling, cleaning, holstering or carrying. That includes your own hands and legs.

Rule 3: Keep your finger straight and off the trigger until you are ready to fire

Rest your trigger finger straight along the frame, outside the trigger guard. It goes onto the trigger only when the sights are on the target and you have decided to shoot.

Rule 4: Keep the weapon on safe until you intend to fire

If your firearm has a manual safety, it stays on until you are about to shoot. A safety is a mechanical device and can fail, so it never replaces Rules 1 to 3.

And beyond the four rules

• Know your target and what is beyond it. A bullet that misses, or goes through, keeps going.
• Store firearms secured and unloaded, away from children and unauthorized people, especially in a crisis, when a household is stressed and full of visitors.
• Get trained. Read the manual, then take a class and practice on a supervised range. Know the laws where you live.