Revisited: 4 Rules of Firearms Safety and Pumpkin Shooting

It’s that time of year again when the 4 rules firearm safety toll across the lands and those pesky pumpkins will have grinned their last mirthful grins.

With the onset of early whitetail season and with regular deer season around the corner, Project ChildSafe wants to remind you that it’s important to remember with intentionality the 4 rules of firearm safety that safeguard shooters, hunters and loved ones. These principles have laid the groundwork for American citizens to connect with the outdoors and are a testament to safety and tradition. 

Becky Yackley is a steward of firearms manipulation and implementation; but, the 4 rules of firearms safety should be as precious to any shooter and gun advocate. In short, ensure every gun is either “clear” or its status is widely known, never point firearms at anything that ought not be destroyed, keep fingers off the trigger until you’re ready to shoot and know the target and what’s beyond.

Why are the 4 rules crucial to safe shooting? 

1. An acute familiarity with a firearm’s status is as important to the shooter as to surrounding onlookers. This establishes a base of trust and confidence within an individual shooter and his relationship with other firers on the range. 
2. Pointing the firearm in a safe direction at all times ensures the safety of everyone and the ability to focus on solitary tasks, together. 
3. Keeping your finger off of the trigger is an obvious attempt to prevent accidental discharges; however, step-by-step drills, regardless of speed, with clear delineations between aiming and firing only empowers the shooter. 
4. Finally, knowing your target and beyond is as applicable to the home and downtown as it is to the range. Often, innocent bystanders pepper a kinetic environment and understanding discriminatory fire can spell the difference between heroism and tragedy. Know your target and what’s beyond. 

Pumpkins, like most fall- and-winter harvested squashes pining for destruction, serve as fun tools to assess and cultivate proficient shooting habits. They’re large and traditionally available during the Fall. Where accuracy isn’t necessarily the primary focus, shooters can focus on various drills, galvanizing the foundational principles of shooting safety. -IBR

Note: We do not recommend harvesting the seeds from pumpkins shot on the range.

Project ChildSafe: 4 Rules of Firearms Safety and Pumpkin Shooting

Brand new shooters generally are very mindful of when they put their fingers on the triggers. They are usually acutely aware of the direction they point a gun. That’s partly because it can feel awkward handing a new gun, after all, they are still learning and they’re nervous. For experienced shooters, whose lives daily involves guns, they might just be the ones who need to step up their games. That gun they just cleaned last night, do they need to make sure it’s unloaded? YES. Just because we know how to handle firearms, or are in the company of experienced gun owners, doesn’t mean we can skip the rules. The rules are there for a reason. They are there for everyone, from the grandpas and the moms, down to the children.

View the original post for a full breakdown of firearms safety rules and what to look for. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the NSSF’s important program, Project ChildSafe. 

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  About The WON

  The Women's Outdoor News, aka The WON, features news, reviews and stories about women who are shooting, hunting, fishing and actively engaging in outdoor adventure. This publication is for women, by women. View all posts by The WON →