A Fraction Of A Second

Dummy red/blue/toy weapons are a great way to teach new shooters about safety,
or to confirm someone has the proper habits developed. Never assume someone “knows.”

Protect your eyes and ears,” was the range command. After working some dry drills with their pistols, the students were told to holster, then make sure they had eye and ear protection on. For some reason the student at the end of the line got a little behind and was about to pull the muffs down over his ears while still holding his 1911. The instructor standing next to him — with good reason — prevented this mistake. Afterward, we often laugh about these “slip-ups.” It’s a way of dealing with the close calls. A fraction of a second is all it takes to make a mistake carrying tragic consequences.

Around firearms — regardless of the application — the number-one priority is always safety. Firearms are dangerous, but no more so than a roaring chainsaw. Like with any tool, consistently applying the necessary safety rules greatly reduces the chances of mishaps. But it only takes a little distraction to introduce danger.

A great way to learn safety and manipulations is to use dummy ammo.

Thinking Is Doing

The best way to be safe is to think safely; 95% of safety is mental. Proper actions require correct thoughts. You learn the safety rules, then religiously apply them without exception.

How you think about these rules is important. You only use positive statements. “Keep your finger off the trigger,” as opposed to, “Don’t put your finger on the trigger.” I can’t remember the parts of the brain involved in self-talk, but they don’t recognize the difference between positive and negative quantifiers. When you say, “Don’t put your finger on the trigger,” what comes out, which guides action, is “… put your finger on the trigger.” When you do get it wrong, and we all do, acknowledge it and correct as necessary, but don’t mentally dwell on the mistake. You’ll only be programming the wrong action. Instead of thinking about what not to do, focus on the correct actions.

When a firearm is in your hand, the only thing you should think about is handling the weapon safely. You can’t afford to be distracted, even for a fraction of a second. Should something else need attention, secure the gun first. The majority of safety infractions occur when someone needs to perform a task involving the hands, as mentioned above.

Getting into a hurry, rushing and trying to impress your shootin’ buddies is a sure way to get into trouble with firearms. Slowing down is going to be your biggest aid when it comes to safety. There’s conscious thought prior to any physical action. You think about what you need to do, how to perform the action safely, and then finally act. Eventually, with proper repetition — slow, correct practice — a majority of these actions begin to operate at a subconscious level.

Even though you’re fighting for your life, you still have to think about safety. Keep the
muzzle pointing in a safe direction and finger off the trigger until the sights are on target.

The Other Guy

It’s also mandatory to watch everyone around you. When you’re doing everything correctly, muzzle is pointing in a safe direction with safety devices engaged and your finger clear of the trigger and trigger guard, the person standing to the right decides to move left — their path taking them directly in front of your muzzle. You immediately lower your pistol even more, slightly twisting your upper body to avoid covering them with your muzzle because of their actions.

When anyone else is handling a firearm, I operate under the assumption nobody knows what they’re doing until proven otherwise. You’d be surprised how many gun owners don’t even know the four basic safety rules. Verify, then trust. Beginner students work with a blue/red gun first until they display safe handling skills. Never leave a weapon where someone unauthorized has access to the gun.

Lots of guys think it’s high comedy to hand a beginner a live, loaded weapon and then watch their struggle. That’s never funny, and extremely dangerous. I go to “high alert” whenever someone says, “Here’s what I carry,” and then proceeds to reach for a weapon. While telling them to hold up for a sec’ I’m moving, either distancing or getting closer where I can control the direction they point the weapon. Even under supervised conditions, like participating in a defensive training class, you have to be watchful of others.

All these same principles apply when using a firearm for defense. Even though you’re in a fight, you still have to be thinking about safety. You have to keep the finger clear of the trigger and guard. Avoid sweeping anyone with the muzzle. If forced to fire, you’ve got to obtain a clear angle so any errant rounds end up in a safe location. Safety mistakes in a fight are deadly.

Finally, as a responsible gun owner, remember others who are less experienced are always watching you as an example. Using firearms is a serious subject, regardless of the application but particularly for defensive use. Therefore, it should be approached accordingly.

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