Why the NRA Safety Rule #2 is so Important for Your Safety and the Safety of Others
It can be argued that this is the single most important of the three to abide by because of its ability to reduce negligence. However, we must also consider negligence due to loose clothing and items entering our trigger guard space. Cue Smokey the Bear, “Only YOU can prevent negligent discharges.” With the stakes set just about as high as they could be, it’s better to be safe than sorry!
In today’s post, we’re going to go into the origin of these 3 basic safety rules, their history, and their practical application because, believe it or not, there are those for whom these rules are not common sense. And it’s important to note that these are not the only safety rules that exist but were created as an easy-to-remember method to mitigate risk and ensure the safety of shooters, whether it’s on the range or in your own home. The purpose has always been to prevent the worst fear of every shooter – the negligent discharge (a.k.a accidentally firing your gun thereby endangering yourself and those around you).
Following the rules of firearm safety is essential for anyone using a gun. These basic actions can help prevent accidents and you should practice them until they become second-nature. One of these rules is trigger discipline, which is keeping your finger off of the trigger until you are ready to shoot. Instead, your pointer/index finger should rest on the side of the frame. Although it seems simple, trigger discipline can take some training to fully ingrain.
Commit to trigger discipline every day
Practice trigger discipline from draw and your transition to firing position
Dry fire practice can be a great way to reinforce trigger discipline, especially when it comes to drawing from a holster. All you need to do is remove your unloaded gun from the holster, paying attention to your finger position as you do so, and aim at a target. Firearms training can also be beneficial and in this setting, you will have an expert who can alert you if you are putting your index finger in the trigger guard without realizing it.
Good trigger discipline prevents accidental discharges in properly functioning firearms and is a core tenet of firearms safety. By adopting this discipline, you can immediately improve the safety of yourself, your loved ones, and your fellow citizens, so we encourage you to start practicing today!
Trigger discipline, as it's known, is incredibly important to make a habit of. It's incredibly important in recreational shooting and also very important in a high-pressure defensive situation. Just because you draw your firearm for self-defense, does not necessarily mean you want to shoot.
