JimConway
Instructor
In the thread on weapon mounted light, there were several people bothers by the fact that they would end up covering somebody while using the light. the following is my take on real world safety. Please try to read this with an open mind and don't go the walmart to buy your heretic burning kits until you have read and digested the material.
What I teach and believe is the there are three safeties.
The first safety is your mind. If your mind is not engaged and alert to the situation around you, you have no business with a gun in your hand. PERIOD.
The second safety is your educated trigger finger which is in index along the frame until your mind decided that you need to shoot. You will know that you have learned this when you pick up your cordless drill or even a spray bottle and find that your trigger finger is in index above the trigger.
The final safety is the mechanical safety on the gun. I believe that if the gun is in your hand the safety should be disengaged. The only time that the safety is engaged is when you are transitioning to a back up weapon or prior to reholstering.
We all, hopefully, know the Safety rules espoused by Jeff Cooper which are quoted below for those that need a reminder.
RULE I: ALL GUNS ARE ALWAYS LOADED
RULE II: NEVER LET THE MUZZLE COVER ANYTHING YOU ARE NOT WILLING TO DESTROY
RULE III: KEEP YOUR FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER UNTIL YOUR SIGHTS ARE ON THE TARGET
RULE IV: BE SURE OF YOUR TARGET
These rules were developed to address square range safety and can do an superb job if adhered to. In my conversations with Jeff Cooper, it was clear that, in a real world situation, only any 3 of the 4 rules had to be adhered to to achieve safety. My take on these rules is that rules III and IV need some rewording to address the realities of a life threatening event.
Consider Rule II about the muzzle and ask your self if you can draw your gun without covering your self. Consider trying to draw you weapon while at the driver's seat of your car. Could you or would you draw your weapon without covering yourself while Bubba was rushing at you with a baseball bat, or whatever, and yelling about all of the wonderous things that he plans to do to you and yours. I suggest that a better version of the rule should be:
RULE II: NEVER LET THE MUZZLE COVER ANYTHING OR ANYONE UNINTENTION ALLY
Now consider rule III about when to have your finger on the trigger and remember that you may have to shoot with the gun anywhere between retention and full extention. You may even decide that point shooting is appropriate (heaven forbid). Therefore, I suggest that a better wording would be:
RULE III: KEEP YOUR FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER UNTIL YOUR MIND HAS MADE A DECISION TO SHOOT
My version of the 4 safety rules is as follows:
RULE I: ALL GUNS ARE ALWAYS LOADED
RULE II: NEVER LET THE MUZZLE COVER ANYTHING OR ANYONE UNINTENTION ALLY
RULE III: KEEP YOUR FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER UNTIL YOUR MIND HAS MADE A DECISION TO SHOOT
RULE IV: BE SURE OF YOUR TARGET
What I teach and believe is the there are three safeties.
The first safety is your mind. If your mind is not engaged and alert to the situation around you, you have no business with a gun in your hand. PERIOD.
The second safety is your educated trigger finger which is in index along the frame until your mind decided that you need to shoot. You will know that you have learned this when you pick up your cordless drill or even a spray bottle and find that your trigger finger is in index above the trigger.
The final safety is the mechanical safety on the gun. I believe that if the gun is in your hand the safety should be disengaged. The only time that the safety is engaged is when you are transitioning to a back up weapon or prior to reholstering.
We all, hopefully, know the Safety rules espoused by Jeff Cooper which are quoted below for those that need a reminder.
RULE I: ALL GUNS ARE ALWAYS LOADED
RULE II: NEVER LET THE MUZZLE COVER ANYTHING YOU ARE NOT WILLING TO DESTROY
RULE III: KEEP YOUR FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER UNTIL YOUR SIGHTS ARE ON THE TARGET
RULE IV: BE SURE OF YOUR TARGET
These rules were developed to address square range safety and can do an superb job if adhered to. In my conversations with Jeff Cooper, it was clear that, in a real world situation, only any 3 of the 4 rules had to be adhered to to achieve safety. My take on these rules is that rules III and IV need some rewording to address the realities of a life threatening event.
Consider Rule II about the muzzle and ask your self if you can draw your gun without covering your self. Consider trying to draw you weapon while at the driver's seat of your car. Could you or would you draw your weapon without covering yourself while Bubba was rushing at you with a baseball bat, or whatever, and yelling about all of the wonderous things that he plans to do to you and yours. I suggest that a better version of the rule should be:
RULE II: NEVER LET THE MUZZLE COVER ANYTHING OR ANYONE UNINTENTION ALLY
Now consider rule III about when to have your finger on the trigger and remember that you may have to shoot with the gun anywhere between retention and full extention. You may even decide that point shooting is appropriate (heaven forbid). Therefore, I suggest that a better wording would be:
RULE III: KEEP YOUR FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER UNTIL YOUR MIND HAS MADE A DECISION TO SHOOT
My version of the 4 safety rules is as follows:
RULE I: ALL GUNS ARE ALWAYS LOADED
RULE II: NEVER LET THE MUZZLE COVER ANYTHING OR ANYONE UNINTENTION ALLY
RULE III: KEEP YOUR FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER UNTIL YOUR MIND HAS MADE A DECISION TO SHOOT
RULE IV: BE SURE OF YOUR TARGET