The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post

Knight cadet · January 29, 2014, 08:14 PM

I can't remember when the first time I went shooting was. Its always been part of my life. I remember shooting guns that were taller than me and being surprised that some of my friends' families didn't own guns.

My Dad taught always taught us the 4 rules of gun safety:
1) Always treat a gun like it's loaded.
2) Never point a gun at anything you don't want to destroy.
3) Keep your finger off the trigger until you're ready to shoot.
4) Know your target and what's beyond it.

For the whole time I've been shooting I was always trained to keep the safety on until you are ready to engage a target, then safety off, identify the target, finger on trigger, then shoot.

I've just started getting some basic firearms training in my ROTC unit and they're teaching us to keep our finger on the trigger with the safety on and flick the safety off then shoot when engaging targets. It isn't natural to me, but it's what the manuals say (I looked it up).

What do the other services and police departments teach? Which way is better?

January 29, 2014, 08:14 PM	#1
Knight cadet Member Join Date: January 15, 2014 Location: The Gunshine State Posts: 70	Fingers on the trigger I can't remember when the first time I went shooting was. Its always been part of my life. I remember shooting guns that were taller than me and being surprised that some of my friends' families didn't own guns. My Dad taught always taught us the 4 rules of gun safety: 1) Always treat a gun like it's loaded. 2) Never point a gun at anything you don't want to destroy. 3) Keep your finger off the trigger until you're ready to shoot. 4) Know your target and what's beyond it. For the whole time I've been shooting I was always trained to keep the safety on until you are ready to engage a target, then safety off, identify the target, finger on trigger, then shoot. I've just started getting some basic firearms training in my ROTC unit and they're teaching us to keep our finger on the trigger with the safety on and flick the safety off then shoot when engaging targets. It isn't natural to me, but it's what the manuals say (I looked it up). What do the other services and police departments teach? Which way is better?