5 Basic firearm safety rules you should know.

Knowing the fundamentals of firearms safety can ultimately mean the difference between life and death. Although accidental firearm deaths make up less then 3% of all gun deaths annually, by following these basic firearm safety rules, you can make sure to avoid and hopefully even lower that statistic. Presented by United States Knights, these are your 5 basic weapon safety rules.

Rule #1: Treat every weapon as if it is loaded.

By treating every firearm as if it were loaded, you can ensure that you will not cause a negligent discharge or worse. Visually inspect that each weapon is clear by removing the magazine, pulling back the forward slide and looking to see the chamber is clear of any rounds and intrusions. If a round is chambered, when the forward slide is pulled back, the weapon should automatically release any rounds through the weapons ejection port. Visually inspect that the round has been ejected again. Do this before storing, holstering, cleaning, and handing the firearm to another person.

Rule #2: Keep your finger straight and off the trigger until you are ready to fire.

This rule is observed to be broken by most inexperienced weapon handlers. Keeping your finger straight and off the trigger until you are ready to fire will ensure that you do not accidently pull the trigger. Some firearms that do not rely on common manual safeties, like Glocks, have additional safety precautions, such as the trigger safety that prevents accidental discharge by unintentional trigger bump. That is why some firearm handlers and instructors preach that their most important safety is their shooting finger.

Do not rely on your firearms internal/external safety to keep you safe from a negligent discharge. To improve trigger discipline, practice by keeping your shooting finger straight while doing daily tasks to build your muscle memory, like holding a Windex bottle.

Bad Trigger Discipline (Top) vs Good Trigger Discipline (Bottom)

Rule #3: Keep your weapon on safe until you are ready to fire.

In the last firearm safety rule, we mentioned that some experienced shooters rely on their shooting finger as their most important safety. Although some believe this, most people do not. To avoid a negligent discharge or accidental firing of your weapon, you should always keep your weapon on safe, until you are ready to fire.

Remember: It’s hard to be cool when you look like cheddar bob. Safety on until you are ready to shoot.

Rule #4: Never point your weapon at anything you do not intend to shoot.

Not to discredit the other firearm safety rules, but this one seems to be the number one rule that when broken, most often leads to injury and death. Never point your firearm at anything you do not intend to shoot. In other words, always keep your firearm pointed downrange or in a safe direction. This rule is most often observed being broken in pictures and music videos.

Remember: Firearms are not toys, they should be treated with respect. Never point your firearm at anything or anyone you do not intend to kill.

Rule #5: Know your target and what lies beyond.

The idea behind shooting drills is to make you a faster, more efficient, and more accurate shooter. However, no matter how accurate you are, if you unintentionally hit something or someone behind your intended target, you will have to deal with an array of unintended consequences. To minimize damage and mitigate risk, always stay mindful of your surroundings and the surroundings of your target.

Splitting time between indoor and outdoor ranges can improve your situational awareness by allowing you to train in different environments.


Most experts, ranges and websites will agree that the 5 firearm safety rules listed above are the golden rules of firearm handling. As the very least, this is correct. However, as weapon systems change and tactics evolve it is important to stay knowledgeable and up-to-date on these changes. To constantly improve you have to be aware and to be aware, you have to understand. Follow these two tips to ensure constant improvement and safety.

Tip #1: Learn the mechanical and handling characteristics of the firearm you carry.

Although the concept of a firearm is to shoot a projectile, every gun operates a little differently. Thus, you should study, practice, and learn the mechanical and handling characteristics of your firearm. Understanding your weapon system and how it functions will help you in the long run.

Glocks and Berettas are two examples of two distinct brands that produce pistols that operate in their own capacity. Handling a Glock is not the same as handling a berretta and vice versa. Learn how to handle, clear, clean, shoot, disassemble/assemble, modify, fix, and teach about the firearm you carry.

Tip #2: Increase your situational awareness to improve your firearm safety and efficiency.

For firearm safety Rule #5, your situational awareness plays a vital role in the success of your shooting efficiency and firearm safety. Knowing your target and what lies beyond will help you mitigate the risk of hitting an unintended target, as will knowing your environment and being aware of your surroundings will help you improve your observation, comprehension, and projection of any potential threats and dangers.

The key to proper firearm safety is awareness. In fact, in majority of accidents, firearm and non-firearm related, decreased situational awareness is identified as the primary cause of injury or death attributed to human error. (Hartel, Merket, & Nullmeyer).