History of Gun safety

	Revision 22 . . (edit) October 5, 2001 1:51 am by Justfred
	Revision 21 . . September 6, 2001 12:48 pm by (logged).161.161.xxx [Reverted page to previous version -- removed political propaganda]
	Revision 20 . . September 6, 2001 6:10 am by (logged).143.252.xxx [More suggestive of why in addition to what. Make explicit note of who's advocating what.]

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Difference (from prior major revision) (minor diff, author diff)

Changed: 1c1

While there are many different sets of "rules" of gun safety, some of them quite long, there is some consensus among those who favor private ownership of deadly firearms by civilians who are not members of a state militia. Firearms instructors tend to agree with at least the following list of four cardinal rules. This list is endorsed by such prominent gun advocates as Jeff Cooper (who originated these rules), [Masaad Ayoob]?, [Clint Smith]?, [Chuck Taylor]?, and [Ignatius Piazza]?.

While there are many different sets of "rules" of gun safety, some of them quite long, there is a general consensus among prominent firearms instructors that the following list of the cardinal four rules is primary. This list is endorsed by such prominent gun experts as Jeff Cooper (who originated these rules), [Masaad Ayoob]?, [Clint Smith]?, [Chuck Taylor]?, and [Ignatius Piazza]?.

Changed: 16c16

Rule #4 is self-explanatory. You must know not only what you are shooting at, but what is beyond it and near it. In some emergency situations (a hostage crisis) it might be necessary to take a risky shot -- but you must know what you are doing first, to be safe. Ergo don't shoot a neighbor through a weak spot in an outside wall, and don't shoot the neighbor kid digging through the bushes looking for a ball.

Rule #4 is self-explanatory. You must know not only what you are shooting at, but what is beyond it and near it. In some emergency situations (a hostage crisis) it might be necessary to take a risky shot -- but you must know what you are doing first, to be safe.

Changed: 20c20

Additionally, there are four rules of gun safety which can be taught to all children who are too young to learn to properly handle a weapon or recognize and understand a firearms potential for deadly permanence.

Additionally, there are four rules of gun safety which can be taught to all children who are too young to learn to properly handle a weapon.

Removed: 30,34d29

Training. Training. Training. This may be the most important element of gun safety since adequate training will cover all of the aforementioned cautions. The risks of a fatality increases with each firearm introduced into a tense situation. Worse yet an insufficently skilled wielder sometimes has a weapon taken away by an advisary. This risk, however, can be lessened by extensive training along the lines of a police academy and state military training. This training also helps recognize the specific challanges of particular weapon models in a given situation. For example Vietnam era M16 rifles frequently jammed due to a combination of overheating and dirt in contrast to the less accurate, but less sensitive, AK47 rifles.

Changed: 37c32

(Any political discussion of guns, even in the context of gun safety, belongs on Gun/Politics?)

(Any political discussion of guns, even in the context of gun safety, belongs on Gun Politics or Gun Politics/Talk)