Some cowgirls here in the Lone Star State learn about pistols at a young age. I was not one of them. I did play with a pellet gun once while wearing a pink cowboy hat. But I learned a lot from that little pellet gun—and from talking to experts—and I’d like to share some gun safety wisdom with you.
Never aim a gun at anything other than your target. This rule is so ingrained in me that I squirm when toy guns are pointed in my direction. Bottom line? Accidents happen. You don’t always trip when your shoelaces are untied, but why risk it? With the deadly force inherent in firearms, you definitely don’t want to take any extra risks.
Mind your target. When I got that pellet gun many moons ago, we wanted to try it out immediately, if not sooner. We took it outside and shot at cans, trash, and anything else that we could find. So, when I grabbed an old pizza box, held it up and said, “Try this,” my cousin didn’t think twice. I have a scar on my shoulder that says, “Should have thought that one through!”
The lesson? Be mindful of your surroundings when using guns. Know what is on the other side of your target and what surrounds it. You also never shoot at anything solid – ricochet.
Keep your trigger finger under control. Don’t rest your finger on the trigger. In fact, don’t even touch the trigger until you are ready to fire. This is how you shoot your toe off, people.
Safe storage is a must. Store firearms in a locked storage case specifically made for guns. There are many ways that a gun can go missing – theft, “borrowing”, kids, etc. Protect yourself and those around you by locking up your gun. Along the same lines, don’t load your gun until you are ready to use it—do not store a loaded gun.
Properly clean and maintain your gun. Like a car, when it isn’t properly maintained, a gun can malfunction. But, unlike a car, guns can be deadly when they aren’t treated with care. Different guns require different methods so check your owner’s manual and clean regularly. Should any parts break, rust, or become weak, check in with a gunsmith before use.
