Vickie/Heffboom Konijn/Paz @Heffboom_Konijn@plush.city

Guns are a thing that exist in the world, doubly so in the US. Regardless of your political opinion about them, it's a good idea to know how to interact with guns safely should the need arise. Even if you never want to be near 'em, this knowledge can only help you.

There's four universal rules that can prevent the vast majority of unintentional gun injuries and deaths. They're not complicated. The exact phrasing varies a bit but the message is always the same.

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Rule 1: treat all guns like they're loaded

Never assume that a gun is unloaded. If someone says "don't worry it's not loaded", never believe them.

Guns may still have a round chambered even if the magazine is removed.

The only time you can treat a gun as unloaded is if you personally have confirmed that it's unloaded (and you know how to with that kind of weapon), and it hasn't left your immediate and direct control. It 's a good idea to re-check anyway. If someone hands you a gun, the first thing you do is check -- and if this is a thing you're going to be doing regularly, that should be a reflexive habit.

Note that the other rules still apply even if you have directly confirmed.

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Rule 2: Always keep the weapon pointed in a safe direction. Never aim at anything you don't intend to destroy.

This should be pretty self-explanatory.

An imaginary line emanating from the barrel of a gun shouldn't pass over anything or anyone you care about. For example, at a gun range, all guns should stay pointed downrange.

Aiming at someone is a violent act. Yes, even if you think the gun is unloaded (and see rule 1). In my jurisdiction (Washington state, US), it's also a criminal act.

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Rule 3: Keep your finger off of the trigger until you are prepared to fire.

"Prepared to fire" means "are aimed at a specific target and have decided you are going to shoot it."

Unless you are actually firing, your index finger should be held straight and resting on the side of the frame, off of and above the trigger. If you are handling weapons, this needs to be automatic and reflexive. If you are firing and decide to stop firing, the first thing that happens should be removing your finger from the trigger.

If you see someone in a movie or TV running around with their finger on the trigger, they're fucking up.

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Rule 4: Know your target, and what lies beyond it.

Don't fucking shoot something unless you're certain of what it is.

In addition to that that, know what'll happen if you miss the target, or the bullet continues traveling after passing through the target.

At gun ranges, the end of the range is generally a large berm of some kind. This can stop bullets safely.

If you have to fire a weapon defensively, will you hurt or kill someone standing behind the target? Think about this. And note, bullets can generally pass through residential walls.