I've written before about how important it is for all gun owners learn the basics of safe gun handling skills.  I was sickened by the news that a Virginia teen rapper accidentally killed himself on live stream.  I don't know the details and I didn't attempt to find the video.  His death, though, is completely preventable.  

Safe gun handling is not intuitive.  If you haven't been trained and intentionally apply the rules, you will not  automatically be safe.  You will likely automatically do what you've seen in pop culture.  Most TV shows and movies do NOT show safe handling.  The image below is a great example, the actor is pointing the gun in an unsafe direction with his finger on the trigger.  Review the rules and then apply them 100% of the time! 

Police in Georgia have charged Colin Gray with murder for allowing his son access to the gun he took to school and murdered 4 people.  I'm sad for all of the families impacted by this shooting.  I'm not going to argue whether the parent should be charged for the actions of his kid or not but Mr. Gray did break a basic rule of gun ownership:  "Store guns so they are not accessible to unauthorized persons."

I'm a huge fan of teaching kids to safely handle and shoot guns but I do not think they should have unfettered access to them.  Last year, we had 3 different incidents here in Powhatan County of kids bringing guns to school.  None of these resulted in a school shooting but they could have.  You don't have to buy an expensive safe to secure your guns, there are many inexpensive options which would make it very difficult for someone to get to your guns.  If you don't have a way to store your guns to keep them from unauthorized people, please get this done ASAP.  Consider it an insurance policy against an unimaginable tragedy.

Don't learn gun safety from someone who is unsafe.  I saw this short clip on X recently and cringed the whole time because of the unsafe gun handling.   Thankfully no one got hurt.

In the first screenshot below, notice the instructor's trigger finger and the direction the gun is pointed - he's breaking two of the NRA's three rules for safe gun handling.  The second screen shot shows the pistol after it goes off and the recoil makes it almost point at the shooter's head!  

Every course I teach starts with the three NRA rules for safe gun handling:

• ALWAYS keep the gun pointed in a safe direction
• ALWAYS keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot
• ALWAYS keep the gun unloaded until ready to use

It is definitely disappointing to see a firearms instructor showing such an unsafe demonstration.  Gun training and shooting should be 100% safe.  If you feel unsafe, leave.

Several years ago, I wrote urging gun owners to lock-up their guns to keep them out of the hands of kids and prevent accidents.  Several incidents have brought this topic back to mind lately and my opinion has not changed.

First, I saw the report that North Carolina had two cases of guns at school on the same day!  Two different kids at two different schools appear to have brought a gun to school to show their friends.  One was a middle school student and the other one was only 6 years old!

Then, I got the following letter from the High School Principal of Powhatan County Schools here in Virginia (I added bold):

Good Afternoon Indian Families!
In the last two days, we received reports and found three weapons in locked student vehicles at Powhatan High School. Even though no threat of harm was made in any of the incidents, the mere presence of a weapon at school is a violation of the Code of Virginia and poses a potential danger to our school community. For each incident, staff, in conjunction with the Powhatan Sheriff’s Office, conducted a threat assessment. In addition, each incident resulted in student discipline and law enforcement being notified.  
We understand that there are community members who own weapons for a variety of personal and recreational uses outside of school time. We urge you to continue to talk with your children about personal and community safety, as well as the criminal and disciplinary consequences of bringing weapons to school. <remainder of the letter removed>

Even though we live in a pretty rural area, I was shocked by this letter.  I'm guessing these were similar situations of kids bringing guns to school show their friends (which is how the administration was informed).  Some high school seniors are adults and can purchase a rifle or shotgun.  I also know that most teenagers are capable of learning to safely handle and shoot guns because I've taught many to do so myself.  However, I don't think either of these is a good enough reason to let a kid have unfettered access to a firearm.  The good news is that that none of these recent incidents resulted in anyone getting injured or killed.   Hopefully, the gun owners involved will ensure their guns are no longer accessible to kids.

Alec Baldwin accidentally shot and killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins while filming a movie in New Mexico last week.  This article says Mr. Baldwin was told that the gun he shot her with was unloaded by Assistant Director Dave Halls.

As a firearms instructor and responsible gun owner, reading about this tragedy is so infuriating!  Ms. Hutchins death was completely unnecessary.  Alec Baldwin and many of the Hollywood elite are rabidly anti-gun and yet they still make movies with guns, which seems so hypocritical.  It seems clear the actors know nothing about guns and neither do those who are paid to handle the guns, the property managers or armorers.  Some observations on this situation:

• The term "misfire" on the movie set seems to refer to a gun that fires when it isn't expected to be loaded.   This should never happen but it sounds like it happened at least four times on the set of this movie!  I would call what happened a "negligent discharge" - a "bang" when you are expecting a "click."  The real definition of the term "misfire" is the opposite of what these articles are calling it.  A misfire is what happens when the primer of a cartridge fails and there is no detonation of the powder charge.  In other words, the gun goes "click" instead of "bang."  
• Both articles call the guns used in the films "Prop Guns" - these are not props, these are real GUNS capable of firing real ammunition!   It appears that movies typically are filmed with the actors shooting blanks instead of live ammo.   

​Some possible solutions:

• Everyone on set who will be handling guns (including the actors) should be trained in the three NRA rules for safe gun handling and these rules should be enforced.  That would mean that all actors would learn to check the condition of the guns they are using - to verify if they are loaded or unloaded (rule #3 - Always Keep the Gun Unloaded Until Ready to Use).  Also, movies can no longer be filmed with one actor pointing a gun at another (that violates rule #1 - Always Keep the Gun Pointed in a Safe Direction).  
• Stop filming movies with real guns.  Hollywood has tons of money.  Why can't they develop actual prop guns that are not capable of firing live ammunition?  If these were props, then the actors wouldn't be breaking rule #1 when pointing them at other actors.  

Seems like I'm not the only one thinking this way, one of the articles says "the showrunner of ABC police drama "The Rookie" said the show will no longer use "live" weapons — instead using airsoft guns and adding the muzzle flashes with computers later. Airsoft guns fire plastic pellets."

Today I'm reposting an article from the NRA's website, 4 best concealed carry positions.  The author includes some pros and cons for each of four options for carrying a firearm on your body.   

If you want to begin carrying a gun, it is a good idea to do some research and learn what some of the common options are.   What works for you will depend on the gun you will be carrying, your body shape and size and the types of clothing you wear.  My #1 piece of advice is to get a good holster with stiff sides that completely covers the trigger guard.  A holster like this will protect the trigger to ensure the gun isn't shot accidentally while you are carrying it (this means no guns stuck in your waistband or in your jacket pocket). 

My second recommendation is to get training on how to safely draw a gun from a holster AND reholster it and then practice with an unloaded gun.

Every course I teach starts with the three NRA rules for safe gun handling:

• ALWAYS keep the gun pointed in a safe direction
• ALWAYS keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot
• ALWAYS keep the gun unloaded until ready to use

In the NRA Basics of Pistol course, we also cover additional safety rules needed to be a responsible gun owner.  One of these rules is:

• Store guns so they are not accessible to unauthorized persons

It is important that guns are not left lying around.  A gun is incredibly attractive to kids.  If they see it, they will want to touch it but they do not realize how dangerous it is.   This month I've seen two articles about young kids getting accidentally killed playing with guns.

• The first one was a 5 year old girl in Georgia who was shot and killed by a playmate at a babysitter's house.
• The second incident was a 2 year old boy in Indiana who shot and killed himself.

I never leave guns just lying around.  When I'm done at the range or carrying for self protection, I always put the guns into a safe or lockbox.  Some people may see this article and say, "I can't afford to buy a safe."  You don't have to buy a safe for $1000 or more, even something as simple and cheap as a $20 lockbox will keep your guns away from kids.  Also, all new guns come with a cable lock.   These aren't the best thing for quick access but would prevent the tragedies likes the ones mentioned above.

Bottom line, if you can't afford to or won't lock up the gun when not in use you shouldn't buy it.  

As I wrote recently, I was looking for a quick access safe in order to store a rifle in my bedroom.  I decided on an ARVault by GunVault.  When I opened the safe to prepare to hang it on my wall, I found the following warning (highlighting is mine):

"WARNING:  The manufacturers and distributors of the ARVault safe do not recommend, suggest, advise, promote or otherwise condone the ownership or use of firearms.  We at GunVault Inc. believe the decision to own or use the firearm is a serious decision that should only be made by an adult who has carefully considered the risks and benefits of such a decision."

Seriously, the makers of a gun safe, do not condone the ownership of firearms!?!  This was shocking to me and I immediately returned the safe.  When I spend money with gun makers and gun accessories, I want to spend my dollars with companies that will stand with us and support our gun rights.  Needless to say, I won't be buying any more products from GunVault.

I just heard about a really unfortunate event at Colonial Shooting Academy last week: a Capitol police officer accidentally shot himself in the leg while training.  If you read the linked article, the  CSA employee suggests that the design of the holster may have caused the accident.  I disagree with his opinion - I have several SERPA holsters and I like them very much.   If used properly, the holster release does not put your finger anywhere near the trigger!

The main thing we should learn from this event is that using a holster with a loaded gun, without proper training, is dangerous.  I think many people assume they can buy a holster and intuitively use it safely.  This is a myth.  You should start by learning the proper way to draw (and re-holster) with your chosen rig and then practicing SLOWLY with an unloaded gun.  As you go through the motions ensure you never break the first two rules for safe gun handling (Always keep the gun pointed in a safe direction, Always keep your finger off the of the trigger until your sights are on target).  Speed with come with practice but should never sacrifice safety.  Drawing from a holster is one of the topics of our Intermediate Defensive Handgun course.