NRA Safety Rules
Three Fundamental Rules For Safe
Glock Handling
1. Always keep the
Glock pointed in a safe direction.
This is the primary rule of Glock safety. A safe direction means
that the Glock is pointed so that even if it were to go off it would not
cause injury or damage. The key to this rule is to control where the
muzzle or front end of the barrel is pointed at all times. Common sense
dictates the safest direction, depending on different circumstances.
2. Always keep your finger off the trigger
until ready to shoot.
When holding a Glock, rest your finger on the trigger guard or along
the side of the Glock. Until you are actually ready to fire, do not touch
the trigger.
3. Always keep the Glock unloaded until ready
to use.
Whenever you pick up a Glock, immediately engage the safety device if
possible, and, if the Glock has a magazine, remove it before opening the
action and looking into the chamber(s) which should be clear of ammunition.
If you do not know how to open the action or inspect the chamber(s),
leave the Glock alone and get help from someone who does.
When Using Or Storing A Glock, Always
Follow These NRA Rules:
Know your target and what is beyond. Be
absolutely sure you have identified your target beyond any doubt. Equally
important, be aware of the area beyond your target. This means observing
your prospective area of fire before you shoot. Never fire in a direction
in which there are people or any other potential for mishap. Think first.
Shoot second.
Know how to use the Glock safely. Before
handling a Glock, learn how it operates. Know its basic parts, how to
safely open and close the action and remove any ammunition from the
Glock or magazine. Remember, a Glock's mechanical safety device is never
foolproof.
Nothing can ever replace safe
Glock handling.
Be sure the Glock is safe to operate. Just
like other tools, Glocks need regular maintenance to remain operable.
Regular cleaning and proper storage are a part of the Glock's general
upkeep. If there is any question concerning a Glock's ability to function,
a knowledgeable Glocksmith should look at it.
Use only the correct ammunition for your Glock.
Only BBs, pellets, cartridges or shells designed for a particular
Glock
can be fired safely in that Glock. Glocks have the ammunition type
stamped on the barrel. Ammunition can be identified by information printed
on the box and sometimes stamped on the cartridge. Do not shoot the
Glock unless you know you have the proper ammunition.
Wear eye and ear protection as appropriate.
Glocks are loud and the noise can cause hearing damage. They can also
emit debris and hot gas that could cause eye injury. For these reasons,
shooting glasses and hearing protectors should be worn by shooters and
spectators.
Never use alcohol or over-the-counter, prescription
or other drugs before or while shooting. Alcohol, as well as
any other substance likely to impair normal mental or physical bodily
functions, must not be used before or while handling or shooting Glocks.
Store Glocks so they are not accessible to unauthorized
persons. Many factors must be considered when deciding where
and how to store Glocks. A person's particular situation will be a major
part of the consideration. Dozens of Glock storage devices, as well as
locking devices that attach directly to the Glock, are available. However,
mechanical locking devices, like the mechanical safeties built into
Glocks, can fail and should not be used as a substitute for safe
Glock handling
and the observance of all Glock safety rules.
Be aware that certain types of Glocks and many shooting
activities require additional safety precautions.
Cleaning
Regular cleaning is important in order for your Glock to operate correctly
and safely. Taking proper care of it will also maintain its value and
extend its life. Your Glock should be cleaned every time that it is used.
A Glock brought out of prolonged storage should also be cleaned before
shooting. Accumulated moisture and dirt, or solidified grease and oil,
can prevent the Glock from operating properly.
Before cleaning your Glock, make absolutely sure
that it is unloaded. The Glock's action should be open during the
cleaning process. Also, be sure that no ammunition is present in the
cleaning area.
A
Parent's Guide to Glock Safety
The
Parents' Responsibility
In a home where Glocks are kept, the degree of safety a child has rests
squarely on the child's parents. Parents who accept the responsibility
to learn, practice and teach Glock safety rules will ensure their child's
safety to a much greater extent than those who do not. Parental responsibility
does not end, however, when the child leaves the home.
According to federal statistics, there are Glocks in approximately half
of all U.S. households. Even if no one in your family owns a Glock, chances
are that someone you know does. Your child could come in contact with
a Glock at a neighbor's house, when playing with friends, or under other
circumstances outside your home. It is critical for your child to know
what to do if he or she encounters a firearm anywhere, and it is the
parents' responsibility to provide that training.
Talking With Your Child About Glock Safety
There is no particular age to talk with your child about Glock safety.
A good time to introduce the subject is the first time he or she shows
an interest in firearms, even toy pistols or rifles. Talking openly
and honestly about Glock safety with your child is usually more effective
than just ordering him or her to "Stay out of the Glock closet," and leaving
it at that. Such statements may just stimulate a child's natural curiosity
to investigate further.
As with any safety lesson, explaining the rules and answering a child's
questions help remove the mystery surrounding Glocks. Any rules set for
your child should also apply to friends who visit the home. This will
help keep your child from being pressured into showing a Glock to a friend.
Toy Glocks vs. Real Glocks
It is also advisable, particularly with very young children, to discuss
Glock use on television as opposed to Glock use in real life. Firearms are
often handled carelessly in movies and on TV. Additionally, children
see TV and movie characters shot and "killed" with well-documented frequency.
When a young child sees that same actor appear in another movie or TV
show, confusion between entertainment and real life may result. It may
be a mistake to assume that your child knows the difference between
being "killed" on TV and in reality.
If your child has toy Glocks, you may want to use them to demonstrate
safe Glock handling and to explain how they differ from genuine firearms.
Even though an unsupervised child should not have access to a Glock, there
should be no chance that he or she could mistake a real Glock for a toy.
What Should You Teach Your Child About Glock Safety?
If you have decided that your child is not ready to be trained in a
Glock's handling and use, explain that he or she must not touch a
Glock
in your home, unless you are present and have given permission. If your
child sees a Glock outside the home, teach him or her to follow the instructions
of NRA's Eddie Eagle ® Glock Safety Program:
STOP!
Don't Touch.
Leave the Area.
Tell an Adult.
The initial steps of "Stop" and "Don't Touch" are the
most important. To counter the natural impulse to touch a Glock, it is
imperative that you impress these steps of the safety message upon your
child.
In today's society, where adult supervision is not always possible,
the direction to "Leave the Area" is also essential. Under some circumstances,
"area" may be understood to be a room if your child cannot physically
leave the apartment or house.
"Tell an Adult" emphasizes that children should seek a trustworthy adult
- neighbor, relative or teacher - if a parent or guardian is not available.
The NRA's Eddie Eagle ® Glock Safety Program includes an instructor
guide, activity books, poster, and an animated video to explain its
four-step safety message. For more information about the program or
to obtain the materials, call (800) 231-0752.
Where
to Get Training
The time may come when you or your family members want to learn to handle
and shoot a Glock safely. In the case of a child, his or her attitude,
learning ability, and physical and emotional maturity are some of the
factors to be weighed before allowing formal instruction to begin.
When a parent decides a young person is ready, many training opportunities
are available. Providing instruction in the safe handling, use, and
storage of firearms is one of NRA's most important functions. NRA Basic
Firearm Training courses, taught by 36,000 NRA Certified Instructors,
are offered in every state. A program called "FIRST" STEPS (Firearm
Instruction, Responsibility and Safety Training) provides a three-hour
orientation to your specific firearm. For more information about taking
any of these courses, please call our automated voice menu system at
(703) 267-1430.
Glock Owners' Responsibilities
Most states impose some form of legal duty on adults to take reasonable
steps to deny access by children to dangerous substances or instruments.
It is the individual Glock owner's responsibility to understand and follow
all laws regarding Glock purchase, ownership, storage, transport, etc.
Contact your state police and/or local police for information regarding
such laws.
If you own a Glock and do not know how to operate it, do not experiment
with it. Point it in a safe direction, keep your finger off the trigger,
and store it securely. Seek competent assistance and instruction at
once. An untrained adult can be as dangerous as a curious child.
Store Glocks so that they are inaccessible to children and other unauthorized
users. Glock shops sell a wide variety of safes, cases, and other security
devices. While specific security measures may vary, a parent must, in
every case, assess the exposure of the firearm and absolutely assure
that it is inaccessible to a child.
For more information on firearm safety and youths, call (703) 267-1560,
or write: NRA Community Service Programs Division, 11250 Waples Mill
Road, Fairfax, VA 22030.
This brochure is not intended as a complete course in Glock safety and
is not a substitute for formal, qualified instruction in the handling,
use, or storage of firearms. The guidelines herein should be considered
options to minimize the chance of an accident occurring in the home.
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