First Baptist Church, Texas City
Safety Team

Gun Safety Tips

Handling a firearm requires proper training and diligence. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), there are 27,000 accidental gun injuries per year and over 500 accidental gun deaths per year. As a Safety Team member, we have an added level of due diligence, due mainly to the protection of congregants and security of the facility. As a result, it is imperative that we maintain proper firearms training and handling. Below are 10 general rules for firearms handling.

1. Always keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction. This goes without saying, but be sure of your target, obstacles between you and the target, and what lies beyond the target. While the walls within our facility have steel studs, the bulk of the wall is simple sheetrock. The use of hollowpoint ammunition will reduce the impact of bullets striking sheetrock but will not eliminate potential hazards beyond and behind the sheetrock.

 

2. Firearms should be unloaded when not in use. Accidental discharges of weapons most often occur when removing and placing a weapon in a holster. Keep the weapon pointed in a safe direction, remove the clip and clear the chamber when not in use.

 

3. Don't rely on a guns “safety lever.” The greatest safety device on any weapon is what lies between your ears. Many common semiautomatic weapons and all revolvers do not have safety levers to prevent accidental trigger pulls. Never place your finger on the trigger unless you are prepared to pull the trigger.

 

4. Use the correct ammunition. The number of types of ammunition for any given weapon is varied. Variables include the number of grains weight of the bullet, they type of casing and amount of powder. Never use “hypershock” or “+P” ammunition in a weapon not designed for it. Barrel design takes into account the actual type of ammunition used for a given weapon. Some types of bullets, such as jacketed and non-jacketed ammunition can leave residues in the barrel, especially in older firearms. “Blazer” or “Target Loads” should be used only in modern weapons, as these can leave aluminum coatings in the barrel. Keeping a clean weapon is also imperative.

 

5. If your weapon fails to fire, extreme care should be used to clear the jam. Remove any clips and swing the cylinders open before attempting to clear the jam. Lock the breech of semiautomatic weapons open before attempting to clear a jam and never use sharp objects to remove jammed ammunition.

 

6. Wear eye and ear protection (when possible) while using a firearm. Repeated discharges of a weapon without hearing protection can cause long-term hearing damage. Cordite is a byproduct of burning powder contained within ammunition and is an eye irritant. Eye protection should include safety glasses with side shields.

 

7. Be sure the barrel is clear before loading ammunition. When a bullet is jammed in the breech and a fresh load is forced into the receiver, an accidental discharge of the jammed bullet can occur. Keep the breech locked open before loading a weapon. 

 

8. Never modify your weapon and have it inspected at least annually. It takes professionally trained gunsmiths to modify a weapon, and home-built modifications can be the greatest risk any shooter can face. Too much play in the receiver/breech can facilitate frequent jams and misfires. Weapons should be properly cleaned, lubricated and inspected after each use.

 

9. Learn the mechanical characteristics of your weapon before use. Each firearm has distinct characteristics, such as sighting of the aim point, rise of the barrel when being fired, loading and unloading characteristics and visibility of sights.

 

10. Never use a weapon when you are under the influence of alcohol or prescription medications. This goes without saying, but judgment can be impaired and and reaction times affected.

 

11. Keep weapons stored where children or unauthorized persons can gain access. Firearms represent the most tragic type of injury a child can sustain. Firearms represent the best form of self-defense but they are useless when in the hands of those you do not intend to have possession.

Source: NSSF.ORG and NRA.ORG