Why YSK: Even if you don’t own a gun, there is a chance you can encounter one at the home of a friend or family member. These are the four core rules of gun safety, but the same can be used with airsoft/paintball guns, nerf or even chemical spray bottles!

First, treat every firearm as if it were loaded. Even if it was clear the last time you saw it. If looking at a gun with someone else and they assure you it’s not loaded, you can respectfully ask them to clear it in front of you before you handle it yourself.

Never point a gun at anything you are not willing to destroy. Pretend there is a lazer beam coming from the barrel. Don’t let that “beam” point at anyone. That is known as “flagging”. In nearly all cases keeping the barrel pointing down between your feet is a good move.

Keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to fire. This includes the whole trigger guard area. Most people keep their finger on the frame well above the trigger guard, pointing their finger in the same direction as the barrel. This is known as “trigger discipline”.

Finally be sure of your target and what’s behind it. Bullets can still travel a long way even after they pass through a target. If you are target shooting make sure there is a solid backstop. If in a real life situation you must positively ID the threat, no shooting at shadows or noises.

  • not_that_guy05@lemmy.world
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    5 months ago

    Lastly, secure your firearms you uncultured swines that don’t.

    Not only for your safety, but the safety of your children if you have some. I hate that people don’t follow this rule.

    • Catoblepas@piefed.blahaj.zone
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      5 months ago

      In hindsight it’s a small miracle neither I, my siblings, or my cousins ever got ourselves or someone else hurt with the guns that were casually left out at my grandparents’ house. It was drilled into me to never touch them without someone watching me first, but what if I’d just not given a fuck, you know? I can’t imagine doing the same with a kid today. Different times.

    • Victor@lemmy.world
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      5 months ago

      Saw an article recently about this 10 year old who shot his dad in the head while the dad slept next to the mother. Kid found the key to the gun storage when searching for the Nintendo Switch his dad took away from him, and he was angry at the dad, found the gun… Now he has no dad. Mom woke up to a loud bang and the sound of liquid pouring on the floor.

      Devastating read. Really tragic.

      • muxika@lemmy.world
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        5 months ago

        That’s horrible! That’s why I went for a safe with a fingerprint reader. Easier access for me and harder access for the kids.

          • Valmond@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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            5 months ago

            Where I grew up you had to store weapons in two distinct places, like part of the firing mechanism in one.

            But I’m not usanian so I don’t need to dream about grabbing a GUN and fight off The Bad Guys. I don’t even have a firearm.

            • OshagHennessey@lemmy.world
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              5 months ago

              Thieves love those. Just by looking at it, you know there’s a gun in there. They’re light and small enough you can pick up and steal the whole thing, no problem. Then, you can smash it open when you get somewhere else with no tools required. If you spike it like a football with both hands onto concrete and concentrate the force onto one of the lid’s corners, it’ll pop right open after a few tries. Most of the hinges can also be easily attacked if you have some basic tools and need to be quiet.

              • Jumpingspiderman@lemmy.world
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                8 days ago

                There is no way to deter a determined thief who has enough time. A primary reason to have such a safe is to secure the weapon from children. I don’t care what kind of safe you have, all can be defeated by a determined enough thief with enough time.

  • Harvey656@lemmy.world
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    5 months ago

    Even if you don’t like guns or even want to be around firearms, this is incredibly important information to understand. We live in a world of violence and weapons. Understanding how they work is important or at the very least how to not kill someone accidentally because you were ignorant.

    If you see someone ignoring these rules, you know to look out, say something, or act. Whichever is the appropriate action. And, God forbid (or whateveryou might believe), you have to use a firearm, you understand the important rules of gun safety. Remember, you have to screw up multiple of the rules to cause a real deadly incident, if the gun goes off because your a dummy and put your finger on the trigger, but you had it pointed to the ground then likely everyone is okay and you are just an idiot. Safety first, always

  • kowcop@aussie.zone
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    5 months ago

    Average Aussie here… aside from on the hip of a police officer, the blokes moving money or on video, I haven’t even seen a gun in over 20 years… good post for those who do hang around guns though

    • anomnom@sh.itjust.works
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      5 months ago

      Unfortunately here in the US it’s increasingly pertinent information. It makes me want to pack up my family and leave to somewhere sane (er).

    • Jumpingspiderman@lemmy.world
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      5 months ago

      Because guns are ubiquitous in the US, I taught our son, and his friends these rules as soon as they were able to understand and remember them, e.g. 10-13 years old. This is because should they encounter guns somewhere they need to immediately know if those firearms are being handled safely. And I told them to immediately leave the area to f they ever come across people handling guns in an unsafe manner.

  • DarkDinner@quokk.au
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    5 months ago
    1. Don’t live in America.
    2. You won’t need to know about guns unless you really want to.
    3. Seriously, you’re likely to never see one in real life, so it’s all good.