Every gun owner, whether they are new or experienced, is responsible for using safe practices every time they handle a firearm. Negligent discharges should never occur. Understanding the reasons why they occur and how to avoid them can help you be a responsible firearm owner.
Go One Step at a Time
Negligent discharges are often wrongly referred to as “accidents” by beginners who are injured or who harm someone else. However, accidents are things that are typically out of our control. Lightning striking you is an accident. Handling a weapon like it is unloaded and pulling the trigger is active negligence, as you chose to behave in an unsafe way.
While gun owners of every experience level can experience a negligent discharge, they are particularly common in beginners who want to move too quickly. They might purchase a gun that they are not familiar with or comfortable using and try to start using it the same way that they saw someone in a movie handle it. Take it slowly and invest in professional training to learn about your weapon, how to safely handle it, and easy ways to start preventing negligent discharges.
Invest in Dry Fire Practice
Dry fire practice is another key component of preventing negligent discharges. As the name implies, your dry fire practice should be done with a completely empty firearm. Dry firing is a great way to practice different skills and the basics of shooting, like your stance, sight alignment, and follow-through. However, dry firing is also a great way to start improving your safety practices.
Are you always putting your index finger in a safe place when you practice loading a magazine? Are you consistently pointing the firearm in a safe direction? At Soteria Training Academy we are happy to help you start or refine your dry fire practice to stay safe.
Carry the Right Way
Preventing negligent discharges does not just happen when you are actively handling your weapon. It also occurs when you are carrying it somewhere, especially when you are off-body carrying. Carrying your weapon in a backpack or a purse is not inherently unsafe with the right preparation. However, skipping the right prep can lead you to a negligent discharge and serious harm. You should always carry a pistol in a holster, even if that holster is placed inside a backpack or a purse. Always place the pistol (in the holster) inside a separate compartment that does not contain other things.
Always Check Twice
Tragically, it is not very challenging to find evidence of the thousands of deaths that have occurred as a result of gun owners, police officers, and other citizens not checking their weapons before cleaning them or pulling the trigger. Before you ever touch the trigger of your weapon, you should confirm that it is empty. If you are unsure, check it again. If you left the room and came back in, check it again. There is no harm in examining your firearm multiple times to ensure that it is empty, but the harm that can be done by skipping this quick task can be permanent.
Soteria Training Academy Cares About Preventing Negligent Discharges
Soteria Training Academy helps ensure that you consistently build your skills so that you’re able to safely handle your weapon every day. Contact us today by visiting our website, or call us at (410) 216-3176 to learn more.