Minuteman Monthly Newsletter Issue 33 April 2003 Thanks for opening the latest Minuteman Monthly Newsletter. This is the monthly newsletter for www.SaveTheGuns.com. We have been online since January 2000. We have had 979,914 since we started. A million hits is only 20,000 away!!! <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> SaveTheGuns.com Quotes of the Month "God grants Liberty only to those who live it, and are always ready to guard and defend it." Daniel Webster "The constitutions of most of our States assert that all power is inherent in the people; that... it is their right and duty to be at all times armed." Thomas Jefferson to John Cartwright, 1824 "The rights of conscience, of bearing arms, of changing the government, are declared to be inherent in the people." Fisher Ames, of Massachusetts June 12, 1789 <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> SaveTheGuns.com Gun Safety Tip of the Month The April 2003 Gun Safety Tip of the Month for the Minuteman Monthly is very simple. Don't take anything for granted. The proper attitude toward gun safety is just as important as the rules of gun safety themselves. If you shoot firearms for a hobby, or have been shooting on and off for many years, the chances are very good that you have had some degree of a "close call" in regards to an accidental firing. I am a Certified Firearm Instructor and have been one since I was 21 years old; over 17 years of teaching gun safety and I have had a "close call" myself. Safety procedures that you should build into your gun handling techniques will always prevent an accidental discharge, as long as you never take gun safety for granted. <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> Help Me Out By Visiting These Links http://www.qksrv.net/click-1101834-19357 (NBAF Magazine Subscriptions) http://www.qksrv.net/click-1101834-1161489 (CheaperThanDirt.com) http://www.vstore.com/vstorereading/savetheguns (VStore Address) https://secure.paypal.com/refer/pal=markel@tmlp.com (PayPal Sign Up Bonus Link) http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect-home/savethegunsco-20 (Amazon.com Associates) <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> Since there have been so many new SaveTheGuns.com Members and new Minuteman Monthly Subscribers, in the past few months, I thought it was time to make this my annual gun safety issue. I like to send out a gun safety issue at least once a year. I have listed below the 49 gun safety rules I have compiled over the years. I have seen some lists that have quite a few gun safety rules, but none of them come close to 49. ENJOY ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ALWAYS point the barrel of the gun in a safe direction. A safe direction is defined as a direction where if the gun discharged, nobody would get hurt. The best direction to point a gun is generally at the ground and to the side. This is known as the Golden Rule Of Gun Safety. If everyone followed this one rule, it would bring an end to accidental firearm related deaths. Be aware that the "safe direction" may change as you change your location. ALWAYS keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to fire. There is a natural tendency to place the index finger inside the trigger guard. This MUST be avoided. Condition yourself to place your shooting hand index finger along the side of the frame. There is no reason whatsoever that your finger should be on the trigger unless you have safely and appropriately acquired your target and your sight picture and are ready for the trigger squeeze. ALWAYS Keep the action open and the gun unloaded until you are ready to use it. The action is the moving parts of the gun that allow loading, unloading, firing and extraction of the empty case or shell. If you are not ready to use it, keep the action open and unloaded. With an open and unloaded action, the only injury that might occur, is if you drop the firearm on your foot. ALWAYS treat every gun as if it is loaded and ready to fire. An excuse often heard following an accidental death is that "...I thought it was unloaded." ALWAYS handle the gun as if it is loaded, even if you know it is empty. NEVER point a gun at something or someone that you don't intend to shoot at. As Jeff Cooper would say "Don't point a gun at anything you are not prepared to destroy." ALWAYS carry the gun safely and watch that muzzle!! The muzzle is another name for the front end of the barrel. Check the action of the firearm every time you pick it up. Condition yourself to do this. Check that action again, even if you just checked it. Never accept a loaded gun from anyone, unless you are a Range Officer or Certified Firearm Instructor or really know what you are doing. When you receive a firearm from someone, it should be unloaded and the action should be open. Keeping the action open when passing a firearm from one person to another is very important. It clearly demonstrates that you are conscientious and that you know what you are doing. It is impossible to have an accidental discharge with the action open. Be sure the gun is safe to operate. A gun that has been neglected or one that is very old, may not be safe to use. Some guns manufactured in the early 1900's should not use modern ammunition. Be certain that when you are leaving the range or another shooting area, that the firearms you are packing away are completely unloaded, including magazines. If you don't know anything about the gun, seek a knowledgeable person. If you are in a position to use a gun at a range or while recreationally shooting outdoors, and you are not familiar with the gun, then ask the owner. Almost every model of gun, operates a little differently from its cousin. Know how to use the gun safely. If you don't know what you are doing while out shooting with friends and family, don't pretend to know what you are doing. It is always OK to ask questions. Don't be afraid about looking less than macho. If you make a grievous mistake while handling the gun, then how would you look? Use ONLY the correct ammunition for the gun. On a rare occasion, a 20 gauge shell has slipped into the barrel of a 12 gauge shotgun. The next shot could destroy the gun and injure you. I know of someone that tried to shoot a .38 special from a 1911 .45 ACP. (A hospital run came soon after.) Carry only one caliber cartridge or shell at a time. This will reduce the possibility of using the wrong ammunition in your firearm. Know your target and what is behind and beyond it. Be certain of where your bullet will end up. With some higher powered rifle cartridges, bullets can travel up to five (5) miles under the right conditions. Never shoot at movement when hunting. If you miss your intended target, where is the bullet going???? Positively identify the sex of the animal before firing. This will guarantee that you will not hurt someone who is hanging out their laundry while wearing a brown and white coat. If you don't know what the male and female species of your quarry looks like, you should not be hunting in the first place. Wear eye and ear protection as appropriate. Inviting a hot piece of metal or powder in your eye is not a very good idea. ALWAYS wear those silly looking glasses or you may be sorry. If you want to be able to hear your grandchildren, you should have ear plugs or ear protection muffs and use them according to the instructions. NEVER TAKE A GUN AWAY FROM SOMEONE BY PULLING ON THE BARREL. If they have their finger on the trigger, pulling on the barrel could discharge the gun and injure you. This is the most common type of accident among young people. NEVER use drugs or alcohol before or during shooting. Alcohol or drugs can impair judgment. Mistakes are more likely to happen under the influence of alcohol. Be vigilant about safety, don't drink alcohol or use some prescription drugs while handling a gun. Alcohol use before or during the handling and/or firing of a gun, can drastically increase the incidence of a scientific phenomenon known as the Stupidity Factor. Ok, I made up the "Stupidity Factor", but my point remains. NEVER shoot into water and avoid ricochets. Bullets can skip off the surface of water and then change direction too!!!! Don't shoot into the water. Don't shoot at heavy metal objects such as junked cars, old propane tanks and abandoned refrigerators. Ricochets have been deadly in this type of situation. Store guns and ammunition so it is not accessible to unauthorized people. NEVER be satisfied with just hiding a loaded gun. If you are simply hiding a loaded gun in your home, KNOCK IT OFF. You are sending out an invitation to tragedy if you simply hide a loaded gun in your home. Never hide a firearm under a pillow or mattress. This is not a very smart thing to do. Someday it WILL BE FOUND by someone. It can get damp or musty under there too! Whoever finds it, may not be someone you want handling an unsupervised firearm. Not to mention that if you are attacked while still in bed, you can't get under the mattress anyway. Your weight and the weight of a spouse and /or intruder will prevent access to the gun anyway. While hunting, you should be completely aware of where your buddies are and carry your firearm accordingly. When walking together, make certain that the muzzles are looking in a safe direction. Store firearms and ammunition separately. Store ammunition so it does not get too moist or in an area that gets excessively hot, like an attic, cellar or closet. Ammunition primers can corrode and become unreliable if they are stored in a damp area. NEVER climb a tree or fence or jump a ditch with a loaded gun. You will have very little control over your firearm during a fall. Be aware that certain firearms and activities have additional rules and precautions. When attending competitions or other organized activities, make certain that there are no other rules that you might be unaware of. ALWAYS obey range rules and a Range Safety Officer. A Range Safety Officer has everyone's best interest in mind. Don't feel angry if a Range Safety Officer corrects something you are doing wrong. There are quite a few gun safety rules and they all must be obeyed at the same time. NEVER rely solely on the safety device on the gun. Mechanical safeties have been known to fail. If you know Murphy's Law, then you would know that if a safety lever or button is going to fail, it will fail at the worst possible moment. Mechanical safeties can wear out or malfunction over time. Read and fully understand the manual that came with the gun. The gun manufacturers are concerned about gun safety. Don't take the gun apart too far!!! Learn all there is to know about your firearm. Know it inside and out. Taking the gun apart too far is how gunsmiths make a lot of their money. NEVER allow horseplay with a firearm even if you are certain it is unloaded. Horseplay with an unloaded gun is never a good idea. It can condition a child to respect a firearm less, and regard gun safety as less important. ALWAYS AVOID THE NATURAL TENDENCY TO PLACE A FINGER INSIDE THE TRIGGER GUARD WHEN HANDLING A GUN. I know I already said this one, but it is worth repeating. Most accidental discharges occur because of a misplaced finger on the trigger. Carry guns in cases whenever practical. In some States, this is the law. Get to know your State Firearm Laws. Ignorance of the law is not a valid excuse before a judge. It is the gun owner's responsibility to be familiar with their state's gun laws. When attaching trigger locking devices, make certain that they are done properly. If you have your firearms under lock and key, be sure to keep the key on YOUR key chain and keep it with you. It does no good to lock up your guns and leave the key out for anyone to find. Be sure the barrel is clear of obstructions. An obstruction inside the barrel, such as a patch, bullet or bullet jacket can destroy the usefulness of the gun and could cause severe injury OR DEATH. If the discharge of the cartridge seemed a bit different in sound or recoil, the gun should be pointed in a safe direction for at least thirty (30) seconds to two (2) minutes, in case of a hangfire. Then the barrel should be checked for obstruction. A hangfire occurs when the gun does not immediately discharge, but discharges a few moments later. In some cases, a cartridge may have a primer, but no powder. Upon discharge, the primer would push the bullet into the barrel, where it would get stuck. This is called a "Squib Load". If only the primer fires on a cartridge, point the gun in a safe direction for up to two (2) minutes, possibly more, then check the barrel for any obstruction. Always thoroughly check to make sure a firearm is unloaded before cleaning or disassembly. Also you should strictly follow the user's manual when disassembling the firearm. Never disassemble the gun too far, that is how gunsmith's make a lot of money. Do not allow a holster, sling or clothing that might interfere with the safe operation of the gun. Never lean a rifle or shotgun against a wall or vehicle. They can easily slip off the surface and hit the floor or ground. It is very unlikely that it will discharge, however, a ding or scratch in the firearm will not make you a very happy camper. It could permanently damage a scope too. If you do a bunch of your shooting at indoor pistol ranges, you should make sure that the range is fully ventilated and the fans are properly working. There can be a relatively high concentration of lead and harmful compounds in the air if proper ventilation is not observed. In addition to this, make certain that you wash your hands very well after shooting and cleaning your guns. There many harmful compounds found in gunpowder and ammunition priming compounds. Some of them are listed here: diazodinitrophenol potassium nitrate nitrocellulose boron metal nitroglycerin tetrazene nickel copper zinc lead styphnate barium nitrate Never keep black powder or smokeless gun powder in unmarked containers. Always use the original containers. Store reloading components in a cool and dry area. Primers, black powder and smokeless powder should always be stored in a cool and dry area. Always check metallic cases and shotgun hulls for defects before reloading them. Check cases and hulls for splits or cracks. Use the utmost in caution when reloading centerfire ammunition. Don't allow yourself to become distracted. Concentrate completely on the task at hand, and most importantly, stay organized and label everything. Follow the ammunition tables exactly, do not experiment unless you are a very experienced or expert reloader. A cartridge which has: the wrong powder, no powder charge, or too large a powder charge; an inverted primer, mis-seated primer, the wrong type of primer or an inert primer; a mis-seated, inverted, or mis-sized bullet; a collapsed, weakened, improperly sized or mis-crimped case; incorrect overall length or any of a host of other defects may seriously jeopardize your safety, the safety of those around you, and/or the reliability of your firearm in a defensive situation. Many shooters prepare and safely use reloaded ammunition each day, and it can be an economical way to stretch your ammunition budget, but the safety of that reloaded ammunition directly depends on the care, components, equipment, and practices used in preparing it. Always use a proper measure when loading Pyrodex or black powder into a muzzle loading firearm. Never simply guess. Never use modern smokeless gun powder in a muzzle loader and never mix smokeless powder and black powder. There is such a thing as a "duplex" load which uses two different powders, but they should only be used under the most controlled circumstances. Never smoke cigars, pipes or cigarettes when using a muzzle loader or when reloading centerfire ammunition. You may lose your beard, mustache, eyebrows and eyelashes, which is very unattractive. :-) <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> As usual, you may post, forward, print, quote or otherwise use this newsletter as you wish, as long as you mention where you got the information somewhere in your project, report or speech. Also as usual, you may unsubscribe below if you don't find this information useful Thank you for registering as a Minuteman Monthly Newsletter Recipient. If you don't want this newsletter or the legislative alerts anymore, just send me an e-mail with "Unsubscribe MMM" in the subject line to: info@savetheguns.com