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NSSF, Project ChildSafe Call for Responsible Gun Storage

Project ChildSafe®, the nationwide firearms safety education program of the National Shooting Sports Foundation® (NSSF®), is urging all gun owners to make responsible firearms storage a priority — and providing the tools to do so — with the launch of its sixth annual “S.A.F.E. Summer” campaign.

Launched in conjunction with “National Safety Month” every June, S.A.F.E. Summer emphasizes the importance of storing firearms responsibly when not in use, especially during the summer months when children are home and more likely to be unsupervised. “S.A.F.E.” serves as an acronym for Store your firearms responsibly when not in use; Always practice firearms safety; Focus on your responsibilities as a firearms owner; and Education is key to preventing accidents.

“Summer is an important time for firearms owners to make sure they’re properly securing their firearms, both in the home and in their vehicles, as children may be spending more time unattended in these locations,” said NSSF President and CEO Steve Sanetti. “NSSF and Project ChildSafe encourage firearms owners and non-owners alike to talk with their families about firearms safety to help prevent firearms accidents, thefts and misuse.” Secure storage of firearms also can play a role in helping to prevent suicide by placing time and distance between an at-risk person and a firearm.

Through Project ChildSafe, firearms owners can obtain free firearm safety kits, including a gun lock, at local law enforcement agencies across the country. Project ChildSafe also offers a variety of educational resources free on its website. These include a S.A.F.E. Summer Quiz, information on safe storage options, brochures and a video series. New videos for 2018, developed in partnership with the National Crime Prevention Council, feature McGruff the Crime Dog, and teach children the four important steps to remember if they find a firearm or if someone they know brings one to school. Another video offers guidance to help parents talk about gun safety with their kids. Also available is the AFSP-NSSF Firearms and Suicide Prevention brochure developed by NSSF and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

NSSF launched Project ChildSafe (originally known as Project HomeSafe) in 1999 as a nationwide initiative to promote firearms responsibility and provide safety education to all gun owners. While children are a primary focus, Project ChildSafe is intended to help children and adults practice greater firearms safety. Through partnerships with more than 15,000 law enforcement agencies, the program has provided more than 37 million free firearm safety kits to gun owners in all 50 states and the five U.S. territories, which is in addition to the more than 70 million free locking devices manufacturers have included with new firearms sold since 1998. Project ChildSafe was also recognized as one of three finalists in the National Safety Council’s 2018 “Green Cross for Safety” Awards.

 

 

 

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Hartmann’s Hint #32: Skeet Shooting Etiquette

Skeet Shooting Etiquette

 

New shooters often ask questions involving skeet etiquette; however, as an NSSA Certified Instructor, I see to it that they have substantial information on the subject whether they ask about it or not. Skeet etiquette is every bit as important for shooters as any other topic in the sport. In fact, we feel the subject is so important that our instructional manuals have a section just for etiquette. We also teach skeet etiquette to the youth during the NSSA Youth Camps.

It is very important to respect others and to treat them as we would like to be treated. Below are the titles of the paragraphs in the etiquette section from the NSSA instructor manual. If you would like more information, contact an NSSA Certified Instructor for a copy, or better yet, why not become an NSSA Certified instructor so you can pass along this valuable information?

Paragraph headings

  1. Skeet shooting is a sport.
  2. Always try to make new shooters/members feel welcome.
  3. Don’t handle anyone else’s gun without asking.
  4. Use only factory ammunition in a borrowed gun.
  5. Never be late arriving at the field.
  6. Don’t put hold point markers on a competition field.
  7. Always introduce yourself when shooting on a new squad.
  8. Extend professional courtesy to the referee.
  9. Never fire unannounced test shots.
  10. Don’t subject other people to your bad reloads.
  11. Don’t waste time and targets on station #1.
  12. Don’t call too loudly.
  13. Don’t waste time unnecessarily while shooting.
  14. Don’t ask for the trap to be cleared unnecessarily.
  15. Never shoot twice at the same target.
  16. Never throw a tantrum on the field.
  17. Don’t mess around after you miss.
  18. If you eject spent shells from your over/under, always watch them land.
  19. Do not pick up your hulls during a round.
  20. Don’t coach your squad mates unless specifically requested.
  21. Always stand out of sight of the person shooting.
  22. No talking while someone is shooting.
  23. Try not to distract shooters on adjacent fields.
  24. Try never to be late for a shoot-off.
  25. Be careful carrying your gun on your shoulder.
  26. Be reasonably quiet behind the shooting fields.
  27. No spectators on a shooting field.
  28. Take only 25 shells for a practice round.
  29. Never run anywhere at a gun club except in an emergency.

Shoot often and stay safe.

Barry Hartmann is an NSSA Master Level and NRA Certified shotgun instructor who can help you improve your skills at American skeet and wingshooting. To contact Barry, email him at threeat8@aol.com or give him a call at (918)803-2393.

 

 

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Hartmann’s Hint #30: Carrying Your Shotgun

Carrying your shotgun while shooting the clay target games

 

When you’re at the shooting range you’ll observe several methods of carrying shotguns.

Break-open shotguns are normally broken open and carried with the barrel pointed in front of the person holding it. I say normally, as you see the occasional shooter with the barrel backwards over their shoulder. I don’t think I’ve ever been hit by a barrel carried in this fashion, but others I’ve spoken with have, and they said it hurt. If we carry a break-open shotgun over our shoulder, we should keep the barrel in front of us so we don’t accidentally hit someone with it and so we don’t inadvertently point the barrel at someone.

Another thing we see frequently at the range is a pump or semi-automatic shotgun being held by the breech with the barrel pointing down. While this sounds like the safest possible way to carry it, and it is a common carrying position when we’re in the field hunting, it can sometimes be unsafe on a skeet field. When we’re hunting, there usually aren’t a lot of people nearby and the ground may not be hard packed or concrete. When shooting a round of skeet or trap, in addition to there being several other shooters on the field, the surface is usually hard-packed soil or concrete, and an accidental firing is always a possibility. I know I’ve seen this while hunting and once on a trap field. The pellets hit the ground and ricocheted in the general direction the barrel is pointing. If we’re lucky, no one gets hurt and there’s no property damage.

This is another reason why we use the term ‘MAT‘.

  • Muzzle - Keep the muzzle in a safe direction
  • Action – Keep the action open
  • Trigger - Keep your finger away from the trigger

The bottom line is to always have your shotgun unloaded except when you’re in the station and about to shoot, always be aware of your surroundings and the direction your gun is pointed, and always keep it pointed in a safe direction.

Shoot often and stay safe.

Barry Hartmann is an NSSA Master Level and NRA Certified shotgun instructor who can help you improve your skills at American Skeet and wingshooting. To contact Barry, email him at threeat8@aol.com or give him a call at (918)803-2393.