Gun Safety

Posted On: 03-25-2024

As any shooter knows gun safety it without a doubt the most important element of all shooting sports.  I can say though how quickly one forgets the rules.  It happens and hopefully no one gets hurt.  There are lots of lists of rules, but the National Rifle Association provides three we must always pay attention to.

First, always keep the gun pointed in a safe direction.  This requires a little interpretation as to what is a safe direction.  As youth shooters you have all been told that keeping the gun barrel downrange is indeed a safe direction.  It is easy to do when all shooters are at their respective positions.  The scenario though changes on the trap line unlike other shooting sports because the shooter in position V must rotate to Position I.  While enroute the gun cannot be kept downrange, but rather the safe choice is towards the ground.  As an example, a shooter as they move from Position V might inadvertently rotate counterclockwise toward the shooter on Position IV.  As they do so their gun barrel brushes the path of an incoming shooter.  What must be done in practice and always is the shooter on Position V must rotate clockwise away from the incoming shooter keeping their barrel safety towards the ground and away from others.  It seems simple but watch the next time you are at a match.  This is a very simple rule that many do not coach. 

Second, always keep your finger off the trigger and out of the trigger guard unit you are ready to shoot.  Again, watch this one at an event and you will often see clearly the finger is in position to pull the trigger rather than along the side of the weapon until ready.  Honestly, this is a good pre-shot routine one can use as a sequence of events prior to calling pull.  Many take this for granted and do not incorporate it so it is well rehearsed and never an issue. 

Third, always keep the gun unloaded until you are ready to shoot.  Here is one I seldom see as an issue, but in the true spirit of the rule I do see shells in breaches that are not closed prior to shooting.  Again, not an issue until one moves to say doubles trap or skeet where two shells are loaded into the breach and once closed both must be discharged while the barrel is down range.  What I have seen is the first bird comes out of the house and it is not clearly seen, so no shot is taken while the second bird lies out and only one shot is fired.  We now have a loaded gun with likely the safety off and a possible accident waiting to happen.  I don’t have a problem with putting a shell in the gun but believe it should only be done once a shooters feet are in position.  A better way to use this method is to incorporate the shell into the breach as a part of a pre-shot routine, rather than having a shell in the breach casually awaiting ones turn to shoot. 

Three very simple rules that often are not coached but rather assumed.  As a coach take the time to walk through station rotations, watch for trigger violations and correct them and helps build a pre-shot routine that moves towards good shooting. 

David R. Vaught

Executive Director