Gun safety training for kids should be at the top of everyone’s list. You may ask, “Burn, my wife doesn’t like guns and doesn’t want one in the house. Why would our kids need to learn gun safety?”
Not having guns in the house but teaching gun safety anyway is more important than a house full of guns and kids. With no guns in the house the mystery of guns is very high. In my house we taught kids gun safety and taught them to shoot at age 8, whether they were interested or not. I don’t think I’ve ever seen an 8 year who would not want to shoot a gun! But for us, I wanted our kids to be very familiar with guns to where they could be safe and not wonder what it feels like to shoot a gun. Every time my kids expressed curiosity, I brought out a gun. I taught them strict rules and enforced them. I reminded them until they were committed to memory. I would ask questions like I do when I teach a class. “Why do we have Rule 2 (Never let the muzzle cover [point at] anything you are not willing to destroy)?” “Because of rule 1 (All guns are always loaded.)” The reason I did this was to tattoo these rules, and the reasons for the 4 rules, in their brains. Occasionally I would throw a pistol or rifle on the bed and say to them, “Make it safe!” They learned safety and there was no mystery in guns. If every child in America knew gun safety rules and kept them, there would be a lot less accidents. In my experience with adults, usually rule 3 and 2 are broken more often than the rest.
Why are these 4 rules different from other organizations’ rules? Because of Jeff Cooper, legendary instructor and founder of API, American Pistol Institute now known as Gunsite Academy. I will explain.
Gunsite’s rules are different but very similar to other organizations rules because Col. Cooper wanted a simple, standardized set of rules. Having a universal set of safety rules gives us the advantage of better communication in training. When everyone follows the same rules when referring to those rules it becomes simple. Everyone instantly knows what Rule 2 is. This makes for lots of clarity in training. Everyone speaks the same language.
These are the rules:
Rule 1:
All guns are always loaded.
Some like to say, “treat guns as if, they are loaded.” This is too ambiguous. If all guns are always loaded, you will treat a gun accordingly even if you have cleared the weapon. It discourages bad behavior.
Rule 2:
Never let the muzzle cover (point at) anything you are not willing to destroy.
This rule is broken often with inexperienced people. Pistols are harder to control than rifles but with deliberate attention, it can be achieved.
Rule 3.
Keep your finger off the trigger and out of the trigger guard, until sights are on target.
Contrary to what TV and movies teach, guns don’t go off by themselves. Someone (or something) must pull or press the trigger. That’s the definition of a trigger. If you never touch the trigger, the gun will not be discharged (Unless you’re Alex Baldwin, of course!).
Rule 4.
Know your target and what’s behind your target.
If you know what you’re shooting at and are willing to destroy it, then put your sights on the target and press the trigger. Also, most people are not really sure what cover is. Or in other words, what will stop a bullet. Most items: walls, doors, appliances, cabinets, vehicle doors, tabletops, furniture, beds, won’t stop a bullet. Hiding behind a car door like TV cops will get you killed. The bad news is that there isn’t much in your house that will reliably stop a random bullet. However, brick, concrete, and cinder blocks effectively stop most common calibers. But each bullet takes out chunks, so it can only protect you for so long. Trees are highly effective. A full water heater can effectively stop at least handgun rounds. The best place to take cover behind a car is behind the engine block and wheel. Bullets easily penetrate other areas of the car.
Stacks of paper are surprisingly good at stopping bullets. Example is: 9mm round, 7 inches of paper. .50 BMG round, 3,187 sheets, about 7 reams of paper.
So, act accordingly. The sequence of the Four Rules isn’t arbitrary; it’s a deliberate progression that builds a layered approach to safety.
In Tennessee they have taken gun safety for children a step further. They passed a law in 2024 requiring gun safety training in schools. It started this year. Since firearms are so prevalent in their state, they decided to take responsible action and use knowledge over trying to go against the Constitution and take away citizens’ rights. It will succeed, I predict. All states should follow Tennessee, but they probably won’t. It’s amazing that no other state has done this. They are quick to ban things but very short-sighted on educating children. There is power in education but obviously law makers need more education themselves!
Please learn and live the safety rules of gun handling and shooting. Teach them to everyone. Stop negligent discharges and accidents. Education and keeping rules will make the difference.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn