Things to Know About Gun Safety Part 2

In the previous article, we discussed some basic gun safety tips. Let us explore more along the same lines. 

• Wearing protective gear for the eye and ear ensures the safety of the shooter. It should not be skipped irrespective of how experienced a shooter you are. The sound produced by gunfire lies in the range of 140 - 175 dB which is far above the hearing range for the human ear. The deafening noise of gunfire can damage the delicate membranes of the ear, causing hearing impairments. Shooting ear muffs protect the ear by reducing the noise and its impact. 
• Likewise shooting glasses protect the delicate membranes of the eyes from twigs, flying debris, falling shots, and target chips. In case the firearm malfunctions when shot, the glasses will protect the eyes from any flying pieces. 

Eye protection is recommended when the gun is being disassembled for cleaning purposes.  Small parts of the gun such as springs and spring tension parts can bounce off and hit the eyes. Splashes from gun cleaning solvent are just as dangerous. Proper eye protection prevents these agents from coming in contact with your eyes and harming them. 

Hence to avoid unforeseen accidents, always wear protective gear when handling a gun. 

The gun’s safety catch is a mechanism that is put in place to prevent the accidental discharge of the gun. However, like all other mechanisms, it can malfunction due to a number of reasons. Sole reliance on the gun’s safety catch is not a wise idea. Even when the safety catch is put in place, the gun should be treated with utmost care and should not be pointed at someone. 

Follow these basic gun’s safety catch tips and precautions:

• Always check the safety catch and never just assume that it is on. 
• Another thing to remember is that even when the safety lock is on, don’t pull the trigger on the gun. It is possible that the gun will fire once the safety is removed.
• Don’t place a half-safe safety lock. In-between positions can cause unintentional firing.

• Once a shot is fired, it cannot be taken back. The shooter cannot decide the fate of the bullet and the path it will take after it leaves the firearm or the damage it may cause. The only control you have is when the bullet is still inside the chamber. Hence, it is important to carefully analyze the target and its whereabouts. If the bullet ricochets after hitting the target, it can cause unintentional damage.

Another thing to note is what lies beyond the target. Bullets travel at a high velocity. Their powerful momentum enables them to pass through different targets and hit multiple objects in one go. A 22 short bullet can cover a distance of 1.25 miles, whereas a bullet fired from a high-velocity cartridge such as 30-60 can travel a distance of 3 miles. Likewise, shotgun pellets travel 500 yards and so on. Beware of the distance the bullet can travel and any possibility of ricocheting off the target. 

When holding a gun, don’t be an impulsive shooter. Before firing a shot, investigate the source of a sudden movement or noise if you feel threatened by it. Remember that it is not possible to reverse the bullet’s trajectory.