Gun Safety

[Mack The Knife]

Was browsing through some old notes and came upon the following. It was written by Mark Beaufoy of Coombe House, Shaftsbury, Dorset, England in 1902 on presenting his eldest son, Henry Mark with his first gun.

If a sportsman true you'd be
Listen carefully to me.

Never, never, let your gun
Pointed be at anyone;
That it may unloaded be
Matters not the least to me.

When a hedge or fence you cross,
Though of time it cause a loss,
From your gun the cartridge take,
For the greater safety's sake.

If twixt you and neighbouring gun,
Bird shall fly or beast may run,
Let this maxim ere be thine;
"Follow not across the line."

Stops and beaters oft unseen
Lurk behind some leafy screen.
Calm and steady always be
Never shoot where you can't see.

Keep your place and silent be
Game can hear and game can see,
Don't be greedy, better spared
Is a pheasant than one shared.

You may kill or you may miss
But at all times think of this:
"All the pheasants ever bred
Won't repay for one man dead."

[Vikram]

Gentlemen,Mods,Romans and countrymen,


May I suggest preparing a do's and don'ts about safe gun ownership and making it a sticky? I believe many novices and sometimes even experienced gun owners may not be aware of rules of gun safety. A few tips on presenting a responsible and friendly image of a gun owner would help dispel the myths about the shooting fraternity. A few tips specific to the Indian context may be given a thought?


What sayest thou, amigos?

Best-
At your service,
your humble servant,

Vikram

[axp817]

agree 100%.

Don't know if info. on this link can be posted on the forum (with pics., etc. a direct html copy) so when someone reads the post, they can see pics. here directly, instead of having to visit the link.



http://www.nrahq.org/education/guide.asp

[mehulkamdar]

Mack The Knife,

Thanks for posting that poem. So simple and yet so full of superb advice! I really think that the old days were a much better time because they cut out the dictated-by-committee-rules BS with more elegant language!

OT but my 1956 Browning A-5 still has it's old manual which says something like "If you value your life and your safety, do not load a 20 gauge shell into your 12 gauge shotgun."

I doubt the multiple page manuals and warnings on new guns do anything better than this old handbook does!

Mehul

[Sakobav]

We should include a section for "Safety Education"

Link for NRA Gun Safety Education
http://www.nrahq.org/education/guide.asp

Some other things dont mix alcohol with gun/shooting and firing shots in enclosed places or as part of ceremonies. Goes for handling swords and knives also..Please add more to this list

Navdeep

[stunngun]

Nice link this. A must read for every beginner. I doubt they would distribute instruction manuals such as this when one goes for pratical lessons. Anyways, it will be of great help as a recap when I actually start learning.

And nice poem too Mack The Knife.

[vishosingh]

excellent piece it was framed and given to me by my father when i started shooting. very useful for children in the sport

[MoA]

4 rules drilled into me:
RULE I: ALL GUNS ARE ALWAYS LOADED

RULE II: NEVER LET THE MUZZLE COVER ANYTHING YOU ARE NOT WILLING TO DESTROY

RULE III: KEEP YOUR FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER UNTIL YOUR SIGHTS ARE ON THE TARGET

RULE IV: BE SURE OF YOUR TARGET AND WHAT LIES BEHIND IT

[TenX]

MoA, can we add 'never aim unintentionally' to your list, although Point (2) resembles the same, lets be more clear.
Also, how about:
> Dont shoot at close quarters - possibilities of re-bounds.
> Dont handle guns if you cant handle yor self.
> Dont allow minors and others wo are not in good balance to handle guns.
... (More?)

[OhGod424]

Might I add Don't Drink and Carry! Definitely better than Don't Drink and Shoot!

Akshat

[dev]

And never put your hand in front of a variable power pump bb gun to check if the air is coming outa the barrel. You end up catching bbs that way. Profanities optional.

Dev

[OverUnderPump]

And never put your hand in front of a variable power pump bb gun to check if the air is coming outa the barrel. You end up catching bbs that way. Profanities optional.

Dev

Dev San, that would be from the Yakuza safety manual and they'd be checking 12GA and .45's .

cheerio

OUP

[sdiversp]

Basic Rules to live by and a few others at: http://ag.ca.gov/firearms/tips.php

[tirths]

Safety comes from continuous regurous efforts where mind may fails but body acts!

Just like a boxer, before the mind his fist knows where to punch!

-Tirtha

[ASSAULT]

Thanks for the info!