New Firearm Owner Tips

New Firearm Owner Tips 

(Disclaimer: This guide is educational. Please seek professional firearms training in your area and follow all state-specific and federal gun laws)
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Welcome to the community of legal firearm owners in America. Legal firearm owners come from all walks of life–, some come for hunting, some for competition, and some for personal protection. What we all have in common is a commitment to firearm safety and a responsibility to hold other legal gun owners to an equal standard of safety.

Owning a firearm is an important and serious responsibility. Holding something that can make a deafening noise and destroy whatever it is pointed at does not come naturally for most people. Learning to handle a firearm safely and shoot with accuracy takes training and regular practice. Mishandling a firearm can have grave consequences. Get yourself into a firearms safety class–one that teaches safe handling, as well as proper use of a firearm. I also recommend taking a class to learn how to properly clean your firearm, because ensuring your firearm is in clean working condition is another aspect of safety. I remember what my first firearms instructor told me.

“You are responsible for every bullet that leaves your gun.” He also said, “There are no accidental discharges, only negligent discharges due to poor or unsafe handling.”

A Few Tips for New Firearm Owners 

With your new firearm:

• Understand the laws in your state about gun ownership, transportation, and use. (Hint: Consult an attorney for legal advice or a recommended authority)
  
  

• Have a safe way to secure your firearm in your home, when you travel, and on your person. Never just throw it in a pocket without a holster or trigger guard. You want your firearm to be safe and secure, yet accessible 

• Fully read the users manual. Understand the type of ammo that should be used in your firearm and how to field strip your gun (ie, take it apart enough to clean it), and hold it correctly
  
  

• Purchase a gun cleaning kit and know how to clean your firearm. (Hint: Ask a trusted friend, take a class, or watch a YouTube video)
  
  

• Encourage everyone you care about to take a firearm safety class. We want people to move from ignorance or fear to understanding and respecting firearms. Children are safer when they learn to respect guns through good safety training
  
  

• Use proper eye and ear protection
  
  

• Receive firearm training from a qualified instructor, not just a buddy (or spouse) who shoots. 

Firearm Safety: 

• Always treat every firearm as if it is loaded. It doesn't matter if you pick your gun up 12 times in one hour. Check it again. You want checking it to become muscle memory– something that you can never forget. Check the firearm carefully every time you pick it up and encourage others to check it again if you hand it to them 

• Never point your gun at something you don’t want to destroy. Treat your firearm as if there is a deadly laser beam coming out of the front of the firearm at all times, and as if it will kill anything that is living, even through walls
  
  

• Always attend to where you are pointing the firearm and what is behind the target at all times.  “Up” is generally considered a safe direction unless there are people on a floor above you
  
  

• Remember that the first safety on any firearm is your finger. Never put your finger on the trigger until you have aimed at your intended target and are ready to shoot. Practice keeping your finger high and straight alongside the action of the gun
  
  

• Expect and demand firearm safety from people around you and on the range. We are all responsible for firearm safety 

• Make sure to secure your firearm in a safe or with some other purpose-built device. Consider a safe or device that is secure and allows quick access to the firearm. 

See the NRA gun safety link: https://www.nrablog.com/articles/2016/11/the-rules-of-nra-gun-safety/

Tips on learning to use your firearm:

• Practicing dry firing of centerfire pistols is good. Of course, check the gun each time you pick it up. Do not dry fire  .22LR (rimfire). You can purchase snap caps to protect your firing pin during dry fire
  
  

• Make sure before you go to a range that you have your firearm(s) empty of any ammunition and understand the rules of that particular range. Know what direction your gun is facing in your gun bag. You may want to put an arrow on the outside of the bag to remind you
  
  

• If you have never shot a gun, it is great to start with a .22LR or another smaller caliber gun
  
  

• Practice slowly at first with the target close (ie, make sure you are aiming at the target so that the bullet will hit the backdrop of the range and not the floor, wall, or ceiling) Focus on your front sight to ensure good sight alignment and sight picture
  
  

• If you have a semi-automatic firearm, consider only putting a few rounds in and practicing proper handling of it before fully loading your magazine. See how slowly you can pull the trigger and let it surprise you when it goes off. Work to stay on target and release the trigger 

• Make sure to always end your time on the range with a win. Even if you have to bring the target up to 3 feet away. 

Owning a firearm is a right, but it comes with great responsibility. A firearm is a tool that must be treated with respect and handled safely at all times. Encourage your friends and family to participate in safe handling and practice with you.

Friends make sure their friends are safe, trained, and responsible gun owners. 

Thanks to all the contributors, editors, and everyone working to support our 2nd Amendment rights in America. Make sure to let your representatives know you want to know what they are doing to fight for your 2nd Amendment rights. Feel free to share this guide with anyone you think would gain value from it.