The Universal Gun Safety Rules
1 All guns are always loaded
2 Never cover anything with the muzzle you are not willing to destroy
3 Finger outside the trigger guard until you have made the decision to fire
4 Always be sure of your target and aware of what is beyond your target
Dry Fire Safety Rules
1. Designate one room in your home as “Dry Fire Only.” No live ammo in this room (Unload in another room)
I have also heard it is a good idea that the wall you point at doesn’t have anything of value on the other side, primarily the human kind. If it does pick a new one. The other option is to always point the gun at something that could absorb a round, such as a small box full of sand. Always safety first….
2. Verify visually and physically that your weapon is empty. Twice.
3. If you are distracted even for a moment, repeat #2
4. There are no exceptions to these rules.
Concealed Carry Rules
This comes straight from www.firearmstactical.com There is a lot of good stuff in these rules and on their site.
1. Your concealed handgun is for protection of life only.
Draw it solely in preparation to save a life from the wrongful and life-threatening criminal actions of another.
2. Know exactly when you can use your gun.
A criminal adversary must have, or reasonably appear to have:
I. Ability to inflict serious bodily injury (he is armed or reasonably appears to be armed with a deadly weapon; you face multiple unarmed attackers; an unarmed attacker has an obvious, substantial advantage in physical ability and/or skill),
II. Opportunity to inflict serious bodily harm (he is physically positioned to immediately harm you), and
III. Intent (hostile actions and/or words) that indicates he means to do you serious or fatal physical harm.
When all three of these “attack potential” elements are in place simultaneously, then you are facing a reasonably perceived deadly threat that may justify an emergency deadly force response.
3. If you can run away — RUN! (Buddy of mine calls this a tactical retreat…)
Just because you’re armed doesn’t necessarily mean you must confront a bad guy at gunpoint. Develop your situation awareness skills so you can be alert to detect and avoid trouble altogether. Keep in mind that if you successfully evade a potential confrontation, the single negative consequence involved might be your bruised ego, which should heal with mature rationalization. But if you force a confrontation you risk the possibility of you or a family member being killed or suffering lifelong crippling/disfiguring physical injury, criminal liability and/or financial ruin from civil lawsuit. Flee if you can, fight only as a last resort.
4. Display your gun, go to jail
You should expect to be arrested by police at gunpoint, and be charged with a crime anytime your concealed handgun is seen by another citizen in public, regardless of how unintentional or innocent or justified the situation might seem. Choose a method of carry that keeps your gun reliably hidden from public view at all times.
You have no control over how a stranger will react to seeing (or learning about) your concealed handgun. He or she might become alarmed and report you to police as a “man or woman with a gun.” Depending on his or her feelings about firearms, this person might be willing to maliciously embellish his or her story in attempt to have your gun seized by police or to get you arrested. An alarmed citizen who reports a “man with a gun” is going to be more credible to police than you when you’re stopped because you match the suspect’s description, and you’re found to have a concealed handgun in your possession.
Before you deliberately expose your gun in public, ask yourself: “Is this worth going to jail for?” The only time this question should warrant a “yes” response is when an adversary has at least, both ability and intent, and is actively seeking the opportunity to do you great harm.
5. Don’t let your emotions get the best of you.
If, despite your best efforts to the contrary, you do get into some kind of heated dispute with another person while you’re armed, never mention, imply or exhibit your gun for the purpose of intimidation or one-upmanship. You’ll simply make a bad situation worse — for yourself (see rule #4).