This is Ben.
He's a trap shooter and owns several shotguns.
Today he's taking his kids out for an afternoon of trap shooting at the range.
This is Sharon.
She's a mother of three and a competitive shooter at her local gun club.
She loves the sport and she's getting pretty good too.
This is Walter.
After months of reading, practice, and waiting, he's in the great outdoors with his hunting
buddies for his first hunt ever.
These are typical gun owners, responsible, law-abiding Americans.
Safe and confident handling of their firearms is important to them, so they deliberately
follow the fundamental rules of gun safety, rules you're about to learn too.
Hi I'm Susan Howard.
And I'm Steve Canale.
Welcome to a brief look at the fundamentals of gun safety.
It's a simple reality that there are millions of guns and lawful gun owners in America.
In fact, there are guns in about half of all American homes and the vast majority of them
are owned safely and responsibly.
But unfortunately, most of the guns you see every day on TV or in the movies by criminals
in the news are guns being used the wrong way.
So we're going to do something about it.
In the next few minutes you'll learn the fundamentals of gun safety, the basic rules that everyone
should know, gun owner and non-gun owner alike.
You see, guns aren't safe or unsafe by themselves.
People are responsible for safety.
And knowledge prevents accidents.
Only ignorance is dangerous.
That's why firearms safety training, like the NRAs, has helped cut firearms accidents
in half, in half over the past two decades.
So let's get started.
First, the absolute rule of gun safety for everyone.
If you don't know how to operate a gun, don't even touch it until you understand how to
operate it safely.
Instead, ask for help.
There are plenty of people, friends, firearms dealers, and instructors, even books that
can train you in the safe operation of firearms.
Everyone, gun owner or not, shares a special responsibility to teach children this rule
of gun safety and language that they can understand.
Very young children should be taught that a real gun is not a toy.
Kids, if you find a gun, stop.
Don't touch it.
Leave the area and tell an adult.
Parents, teachers, and friends must talk openly about gun safety.
The real danger is when a child considers guns a taboo or a mystery to be investigated
when alone.
That's why the NRA developed Eddie Eagle gun safety teaching materials, especially for
very young children.
Over two million kids have already learned this lesson of gun safety from Eddie Eagle.
It's pretty simple, really.
If you find a gun, stop.
Don't touch it.
Leave the area and tell an adult.
Now let's look at Ben again.
See if you can spot gun safety rule number one.
There.
See?
When Ben removed the shotgun from the rack, he kept it pointed in a safe direction.
That's rule one.
Always keep any gun, loaded or not, pointed in a safe direction.
Now safe direction means that even if the gun were somehow fired accidentally, it wouldn't
cause injury.
Common sense tells you which direction is the safe direction.
Depending on the circumstances, maybe straight up or maybe down, but always away from people.
Now let's look at Sharon.
As she prepares for practice at the gun range, watch closely.
Notice that she not only keeps her handgun pointed in a safe direction down range, but
her finger never touches the trigger.
That's rule number two.
Always keep your finger off the trigger until you're ready to shoot.
Now Walter is obviously keeping his rifle pointed in a safe direction, and his finger
is nowhere near the trigger.
He opened the action to check that his rifle was not loaded, and won't be until he begins
hunting in the field.
And that's rule number three.
Always keep any gun unloaded until you're ready to use it.
Ben, Sharon and Walter each followed all three basic rules of safe gun handling.
Remember, always keep the gun pointed in a safe direction.
And always keep your finger off the trigger until you're ready to shoot.
And always keep the gun unloaded until you're ready to use it.
The word to remember is always.
It means just that.
If you always follow the rules, you'll always be safe.
There are many types of firearms that work in different ways and use different types
of ammunition.
Shotguns and rifles are designed to be held with both hands and fired from the shoulder.
Shotguns use shells containing shot, small pellets like BBs, which is why they're called
shotguns.
Shotgun shells come in different sizes or gauges.
Guns and handguns, on the other hand, shoot bullets.
These cartridges also come in different sizes or calibers.
Shotguns and rifles are usually identified by their action, the group of parts through
which ammunition is loaded, fired and unloaded.
Some are hinge action.
Some are pump action.
Some are bolt action.
Some are lever action.
And some have semi-automatic action.
Guns may be revolvers, meaning they have a revolving chamber that holds the bullets.
Or they may be semi-automatic, meaning a round is reloaded each time you pull the trigger.
Whatever the action or ammunition, all firearms should be regularly cleaned, generally stored
separate from ammunition, and kept inaccessible to unauthorized persons.
There are many different types of rifles, shotguns and handguns, and learning the right
way to operate each individual firearm is essential.
But one thing is true of all of them, it's the absolute rule to remember.
If you don't know how to operate a firearm, don't even touch it until you know how to
operate it safely.
Ask for help.
About 70 million Americans from all walks of life safely own, use and enjoy all types
of firearms.
Nearly 18 million people hunt.
Most more own firearms for recreational shooting, competitive shooting, collecting, historical
reenactments and personal protection.
Firearms may be owned and kept in the home perfectly safely.
That's why it's so important that everyone know and practice the basics of firearm safety.
Now a little quiz to see what you've learned.
If you don't know how to operate a gun, should you read the owner's manual, take it to a
gun dealer, have a trained person look at it, or not touch it?
The answer is don't touch it until you learn to operate it safely.
Here's another one.
Is the main difference between a rifle and a shotgun, the length of the barrel, the sound
they make, the ammunition they use, or the way they work?
The main difference is C, the ammunition they use.
Guns use shot pellets while rifles and handguns use bullets.
True or false?
Is a gun dangerous by itself?
The answer is false.
A gun in good condition can't just go off.
It isn't safe or unsafe by itself.
People are responsible for safety.
True or false?
Most ammunition can be used with all types of guns.
The answer, false.
Gun comes in specific sizes for specific firearms.
And finally, what are the three fundamental rules of gun safety?
Always keep the gun pointed in a safe direction.
Always keep your finger off the trigger until you're ready to shoot.
Always keep the gun unloaded until you're ready to use it.
These are the three fundamental rules of safe gun handling.
When using a gun, there are seven more rules you should always follow.
Know how the gun operates, its parts, how the action works, how to safely load and remove
ammunition.
Be sure your gun and ammunition are compatible.
Only ammunition designed for a particular gun can be fired safely in that gun.
Carry only one gauge or caliber of ammunition when shooting so that you can't make a mistake.
Be sure of your target and what's beyond.
Check out each situation.
Shoot first, shoot second.
Wear eye and ear protection as appropriate.
Don't mix alcohol or drugs with shooting, never, period.
And finally, be aware that circumstances may require other rules unique to a particular
situation.
Use your common sense because you are responsible for gun safety.
Remember to always follow these rules of gun safety and share them with anyone you know
who might come in contact with firearms.
You'll also find these fundamentals explained in more detail in the NRA's book, Home Firearm
Safety and in basic firearms courses taught by NRA-certified instructors.
For more detailed information on safe firearm operation and information about the many ways
you can enjoy safe firearm ownership, contact the National Rifle Association's Education
and Training Division.
I'm Steve Canale.
And I'm Susan Howard.
With these fundamentals of gun safety, you can keep having fun and keep it safe.
Thanks for joining us.
We'll see you next time.