New Year Resolutioin - Recommit to Cooper's Rules

[Richard S]

On the occasion of each New Year, I make it a point to review and recommit to the rules of gun safety laid down by the legendary Colonel Jeff Cooper.

[size=10]All firearms are loaded. - There are no exceptions. Don't pretend that this is true. Know that it is and handle all firearms accordingly. Do not believe it when someone says: "It isn't loaded."

Never let the muzzle of a firearm point at anything you are not willing to destroy. - If you would not want to see a bullet hole in it do not allow a firearm's muzzle to point at it.  EVER!

Keep your finger off the trigger unless your sights are on the target. - Danger abounds if you keep your finger on the trigger when you are not about to shoot. Speed is not gained by prematurely placing your finger on the trigger as bringing a firearm to bear on a target takes more time than it takes to move your finger to the trigger.

Be sure of your target and what is behind it. - Never shoot at sounds or a target you cannot positively identify. Know what is in line with the target and what is behind it (bullets are designed to go through things). Be aware of your surroundings whether on a range, in the woods, or in a potentially lethal conflict. [/size]

[tracker]

Once, I violated rule #1 with my prized Series 70 Gold Cup and had to replace a glass pane and re-tar a small [.45 size] section of flat roof. I am now a devoted follower of all these rules of Col. Cooper. Thanks for posting.

[Richard S]

Tracker:

In one of the eulogies following Colonel Cooper's death, it was reported by one who claimed to have been present at the time that the same sort of thing once happened to the Colonel himself. It was said that, while testing the trigger of a new revolver, he took out his picture window and drilled the utility meter at which he had been aiming. Reportedly, after an astonished moment of silence, the Colonel was overheard to say something to the effect, "This sort of thing is not supposed to happen to me."

I am a firm believer in O'Brian's Law, which holds that Murphy's Law is flawed by irrational exuberance.


[size=10]Edit: Typo.[/size]

[tracker]

Which is quickly followed by a severe letdown.

[kjtrains]

Never let the muzzle of a firearm point at anything you are not willing to destroy. - If you would not want to see a bullet hole in it do not allow a firearm's muzzle to point at it.  EVER!

 

Richard.  Thanks for Cooper's Rules.  I needed these when I was 12 as I posted the event on another thread.  However, I learned a valuable lesson early.

[kjtrains]

Which is quickly followed by a severe letdown.

Severe to the n'th degree.

[theirishguard]

AD's are never a good thing. and if you have never had one... your time is coming.  very good advice for the new year thanks Richard.   Tom

[steel714]

I have never had an AD. But I can see how easily it could happen. If it ever does happen to you, just hope its a window or a roof and not a human.