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NRA 3-safety rules vs 4-safety rules
Posted: Wed Feb 19, 2014 7:43 am
by Beiruty
At FGC I saw this new large NRA 3-safety rules signs and now they are posted online.
NRA 3- safety rules contradicts the 4-safety rules that we know and teach.
Anyone care explain this? why NRA came up with this? I do not like the 3rd rule. It smells like Israeli-carry(not chambered).
Oh, I am sorry. I did not include the link.

Here you go:
https://www.friscogunclubinc.com/classe ... safety.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Re: NRA 3-safety rules vs 4-safety rules
Posted: Wed Feb 19, 2014 8:04 am
by Crossfire
What is FGC? And what are the 3 posted rules?
Re: NRA 3-safety rules vs 4-safety rules
Posted: Wed Feb 19, 2014 8:16 am
by jbarn
Beiruty wrote:At FGC I saw this new large NRA 3-safety rules signs and now they are posted online.
NRA 3- safety rules contradicts the 4-safety rules that we know and teach.
Anyone care explain this? why NRA came up with this? I do not like the 3rd rule. It smells like Israeli-carry(not chambered).
I don't think the rule is to carry unchambered. The rule is to keep the gun unloaded until ready to use. Carry for self protection is ready for use.
The other two NRA rules are to keep the firearm pointed in a safe direction and keep your finger off of the trigger until ready to shoot.
I teach the 4 cardinal rules from Jeff Cooper
1. Treat all firearms as loaded, always
2. Never allow the muzzle to cover anything you are not willing to destroy
3. Finger off the trigger until on target and ready to fire.
4. Always know your target and what is beyond
Re: NRA 3-safety rules vs 4-safety rules
Posted: Wed Feb 19, 2014 9:00 am
by Keith B
There are 3 NRA fundamental rules. There are actually 10 total from the NRA, sometimes refered to as the 'Ten Commandments of Gun Safety'
The 3 NRA fundamentals are:
1. ALWAYS keep the gun pointed in a safe direction
2. ALWAYS keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot.
3. ALWAYS keep the gun unloaded until ready to use.
With a self-defense gun, it is always ready to use, so we keep them loaded, so number 3 is correct, but we should be ready to use it if needed.
The remaining rules from NRA are:
4. Know your target and what is beyond.
5. Know how to use the gun safely.
6. Be sure the gun is safe to operate.
7. Use only the correct ammunition for your gun.
8. Wear eye and ear protection as appropriate.
9. Never use alcohol or over-the-counter, prescription or other drugs before or while shooting.
10. Store guns so they are not accessible to unauthorized persons.
Here is the link for the NRA rules
http://training.nra.org/nra-gun-safety-rules.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Re: NRA 3-safety rules vs 4-safety rules
Posted: Wed Feb 19, 2014 1:07 pm
by A-R
Read an interesting snippet the other day about The One Rule to use when teaching brand-new total novice never-shot-before beginners.
"Always keep the gun pointed in a safe direction (away from yourself and other people). "
The theory is that for newbies, if they follow this one simple rule no one gets hurt even if they ND/AD.
He then states very clearly to the newbie upon handing them the loaded gun "do not touch the trigger until I tell you to"
Interesting theory, and I'm ok with it in a very controlled environment (at the range, on the lane, with the "instructor" right next to and constantly monitoring the "student). But if there is more than a 1/1 teacher/student ratio, this doesn't work for me. For this to work, the instructor has to be right on top of the student and ready to move the gun (and student's arm) into a safe direction instantaneously if they even get close to breaking The One Rule.
Re: NRA 3-safety rules vs 4-safety rules
Posted: Wed Feb 19, 2014 3:12 pm
by Jumping Frog
A-R wrote:Read an interesting snippet the other day about The One Rule to use when teaching brand-new total novice never-shot-before beginners.
"Always keep the gun pointed in a safe direction (away from yourself and other people). "
When you read Jeff Cooper's commentary on his 4 rules, he specifically calls out Rule 3 as the "
Golden Rule".
RULE 3: KEEP YOUR FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER TIL YOUR SIGHTS ARE ON THE TARGET
This we call the Golden Rule because its violation is responsible for about 80 percent of the firearms disasters we read about.
Re: NRA 3-safety rules vs 4-safety rules
Posted: Wed Feb 19, 2014 3:27 pm
by Keith B
Jumping Frog wrote:This we call the Golden Rule because its violation is responsible for about 80 percent of the firearms disasters we read about.
You know, it's amazing how that works. You no press trigger, gun no go boom.

Re: NRA 3-safety rules vs 4-safety rules
Posted: Wed Feb 19, 2014 3:29 pm
by Keith B
Beiruty wrote:At FGC I saw this new large NRA 3-safety rules signs and now they are posted online.
NRA 3- safety rules contradicts the 4-safety rules that we know and teach.
Anyone care explain this? why NRA came up with this? I do not like the 3rd rule. It smells like Israeli-carry(not chambered).
Oh, I am sorry. I did not include the link.
[
Image ]
Here you go:
https://www.friscogunclubinc.com/classe ... safety.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
There is nothing wrong with that sign at all. It is the 3 main rules, especially for a gun range where most people come in with their guns unloaded. They are not talking about your concealed carry weapon for rule 3.
Re: NRA 3-safety rules vs 4-safety rules
Posted: Wed Feb 19, 2014 3:40 pm
by n5wd
Crossfire wrote:What is FGC? And what are the 3 posted rules?
Frisco Gun Club
Re: NRA 3-safety rules vs 4-safety rules
Posted: Wed Feb 19, 2014 7:04 pm
by WildBill
Keith B wrote:You no press trigger, gun no go boom.

Can I quote you on that?

Re: NRA 3-safety rules vs 4-safety rules
Posted: Wed Feb 19, 2014 7:27 pm
by A-R
Jumping Frog wrote:A-R wrote:Read an interesting snippet the other day about The One Rule to use when teaching brand-new total novice never-shot-before beginners.
"Always keep the gun pointed in a safe direction (away from yourself and other people). "
When you read Jeff Cooper's commentary on his 4 rules, he specifically calls out Rule 3 as the "
Golden Rule".
RULE 3: KEEP YOUR FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER TIL YOUR SIGHTS ARE ON THE TARGET
This we call the Golden Rule because its violation is responsible for about 80 percent of the firearms disasters we read about.
Good point

Re: NRA 3-safety rules vs 4-safety rules
Posted: Thu Feb 27, 2014 7:29 pm
by sjfcontrol
n5wd wrote:Crossfire wrote:What is FGC? And what are the 3 posted rules?
Frisco Gun Club
Or, Frisco Gun Country-club
Re: NRA 3-safety rules vs 4-safety rules
Posted: Thu Feb 27, 2014 9:37 pm
by Divided Attention
The first and then every time my dad took me to the range we had a "safety briefing". It started when I was 7, and after a while I had to tell him the rules. But EVERY time there was a review.
1. Always keep the gun pointed in a safe direction - the target!
2. Keep your action empty - don't put bullets in until I tell you!
3. Keep your booger hook off the bang switch until your sights are on the target!
We do this with our kids and our 4-H youth, and any class we teach, formal or family. There is a safety briefing and an assignment of duties should there be an emergency.
When I teach safety to the 4-H-ers they use "M.A.T.S."
Muzzle - pointed in a safe direction,
Action - Open and empty,
Trigger - Keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot.
Shells - Make sure you have the right shells for your gun (this started as a shotgun project)
Much to the parent's dismay I add my Dad's rules - they always remember the booger hook as I have for several decades as well. When mom's tell me that they "appreciate" the new knowledge I have shared I just grin and say "your welcome - but they will remember the safety rules!"