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- Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
- Kategorie: Lebensstil
- Sprache: Englisch
A straightforward guide to being smart with your firearm With gun sales at an all-time high in the U.S., easy-to-understand advice on storing and possessing guns safely is at an all-time premium. Safe Gun Ownership For Dummies paves the way for new and novice gun owners to learn the basics of firearm ownership in a non-partisan tone. This book helps gun owners thoroughly explore the rules of gun safety and adopt the habits of savvy firearm aficionados. Written by a firearms expert and analyst who has reviewed hundreds of firearms along with gun safety and storage options, this guide helps you develop a safety mindset and apply practices to assure you and your family avoid harm. * Learn, internalize, and apply the rules of gun safety * Understand federal, state, and local gun laws * Find a good gun safety course for hands-on practice * Store and transport your firearm securely When it's time to start training on your new firearm and the safety rules of gun ownership, Safe Gun Ownership For Dummies is at the ready with everything you need to know to make safety your aim.
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Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2022
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Safe Gun Ownership For Dummies®
Published by: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774, www.wiley.com
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Published simultaneously in Canada
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Library of Congress Control Number: 2022941234
ISBN: 978-1-119-89484-1 (pbk); ISBN 978-1-119-89485-8 (epdf); ISBN 978-1-119-89486-5 (epub)
Safe Gun Ownership For Dummies®
To view this book's Cheat Sheet, simply go to www.dummies.com and search for “Safe Gun Ownership For Dummies Cheat Sheet” in the Search box.
Table of Contents
Cover
Title Page
Copyright
Introduction
About This Book
Foolish Assumptions
Icons Used in This Book
Beyond the Book
Where to Go from Here
Part 1: Getting Started with Gun Safety
Chapter 1: The Basics of Safe Gun Ownership
Common Reasons to Own a Firearm
Things to Consider Before Purchasing a Firearm
The Four Rules of Gun Safety
Checking Whether a Gun is Loaded
Chapter 2: Legally Speaking
Understanding U.S. Federal Gun Regulations
Breaking Down Landmark Supreme Court Decisions
Navigating State and Local Laws
Looking at Gun Laws Outside the United States
Chapter 3: The Three Main Types of Firearms
Taking a Quick Trip through History: Cannons, Muskets, and More
Going the Distance with Rifles
Sorting Out Various Types of Shotguns
Getting Hands on with Handguns
Chapter 4: Purchasing Your Firearm
Your First Trip to the Gun Store
Knowing the Purchase Requirements
Part 2: Building a Gun Safety Mindset
Chapter 5: Introducing a Firearm into Your Household
Having “The Talk” with Your Family
Letting Other People Know You Own a Gun
Understanding the Dangers of Overpenetration
Chapter 6: Safe and Secure Firearm Storage
Understanding the Locks (Sometimes) Included with Guns
Investing in Sturdy Steel with Gun Safes and Vaults
Grasping the Importance of Storing Ammunition Separately
Chapter 7: Manual Labor
Looking Inside Your Firearm’s Manual
Watching Out for Other Warnings
Keeping the Record Straight
Chapter 8: Cleaning and Maintenance
Caring for Your Gun between Trips to the Range
Dealing With the Usual Wear and Tear
Troubleshooting Two Larger Issues
Chapter 9: Getting to Know Ammunition
Making Sense of Rifle and Handgun Ammunition
Sorting Out Shotgun Shells
Chapter 10: Today’s Firearm Accessories
Carrying Your Gun
Using Common Shooting Aids
Customizing Your Gun
Looking at Other Helpful Accessories
Chapter 11: Leaving Home with Your Firearm
Transporting a Gun in a Vehicle
Crossing State Lines with a Firearm
Carrying a Firearm on Your Person
Part 3: Discovering How to Use Your Firearm
Chapter 12: Basic Training
Understanding Why You Need to Attend a Training Course
Knowing What to Expect from a Training Course
Finding a Training Course Near You
Range Safety Fundamentals
Preparing for All Types of Weather
Continuing Your Education
Chapter 13: On the Mark
Learning the Basics of Accurate Shooting
Practicing Your Shooting Skills Safely
Overcoming Cross-Eye Dominance
Chapter 14: Reloading and Clearing Malfunctions
Dissecting the Anatomy of a Detachable Magazine
Reloading a Pistol Three Different Ways
Safely Unloading a Gun
Troubleshooting Common Pistol Malfunctions
Part 4: Think Carefully before You Shoot
Chapter 15: Hunting and Sport Shooting
Preparing to Hunt with a Firearm
Going for Gold at Shooting Matches
Chapter 16: Firearms and Self-Defense
Before You Reach for a Gun …
Understanding the Castle Doctrine
Creating an Emergency Plan
Understanding Self-Defense with a Firearm Outside the Home
Part 5: The Part of Tens
Chapter 17: Ten Common Myths about Firearms
Myth: “The Wild West Was Full of Gunplay”
Myth: “A Gun Will Make Me Safer”
Myth: “Guns Don’t Kill People; People Kill People”
Myth: “Polymer Guns Won’t Set off Metal Detectors”
Myth: “The Only Thing That Can Stop a Bad Guy with a Gun Is a Good Guy with a Gun”
Myth: “Millions of People Defend Themselves with Guns Every Year”
Myth: “Guns Can Blow You Away”
Myth: “Every Gun Sale Already Requires a Background Check”
Myth: “Blame Video Games, Not Guns”
Myth: “I Love Guns — They Make Me Who I Am”
Chapter 18: Ten (or More) Gun Terms You’re Using Incorrectly
Saying “Clip” Instead of “Magazine”
Bullets, Cartridges, and More
Accuracy versus Precision
The Two Meanings of Pistol
Semi-Automatic versus Automatic
Assault Rifles and Assault Weapons
Why Suppressors Aren’t Quite Silencers
Standard and High Capacity
Grip and Handle Defined
Chapter 19: Ten Steps to Restore a Classic Gun
Unload and Inspect the Firearm
Research the Make and Model
Decide What You Want to Do with It
Carefully Disassemble and Clean It
Remove Light Rust from Metal Surfaces
Replace Any Missing or Damaged Parts
Refinish the Metal — or Not
Restore the Wood
Clean, Lubricate, and Reassemble It
Have a Gunsmith Back Up your Work
Index
About the Author
Connect with Dummies
End User License Agreement
List of Tables
Chapter 4
TABLE 4-1 States with Permit or License Requirements
TABLE 4-2 States with Waiting Periods
Chapter 9
TABLE 9-1 Comparing 9mm and .45 ACP Trajectories
Chapter 12
TABLE 12-1 States with Firearms Training Requirements
List of Illustrations
Chapter 2
FIGURE 2-1: The NFA placed restrictions on fully automatic weapons like Tommy g...
FIGURE 2-2: The federal assault weapons ban explicitly outlawed guns like the T...
Chapter 3
FIGURE 3-1: Many of the names for cannon components carried over to small arms.
FIGURE 3-2: Muskets were known for their long barrels and wooden stocks.
FIGURE 3-3:
Blunderbusses
could be loaded with a variety of ammunition.
FIGURE 3-4: Pistols were designed to be used with just one hand.
FIGURE 3-5: Rifling is what makes a projectile spin as it travels down the barr...
FIGURE 3-6: Note the bolt handle on this traditional bolt-action rifle.
FIGURE 3-7: The bolt chambers a new round as it moves forward.
FIGURE 3-8: A lever-action rifle is easy to identify by the lever underneath it...
FIGURE 3-9: The lever moves the lifter to carry a round from the magazine into ...
FIGURE 3-10: Both semi-auto and select-fire variants of the AK-47 have been dev...
FIGURE 3-11: The heart of the AK-47 is its gas piston operating system.
FIGURE 3-12: The original M16’s stock, grip, and handguard were made of tough p...
FIGURE 3-13: Note the long gas tube that rides above the barrel on a typical AR...
FIGURE 3-14: Note the different projectiles in each of these shotgun shells.
FIGURE 3-15: An over/under (top) and a side-by-side (bottom) shotgun.
FIGURE 3-16: What an over/under looks like when the action is pivoted open.
FIGURE 3-17: Pumping the forend ejects a spent shell and loads a new one into t...
FIGURE 3-18: As the forend returns forward, the carrier lifts a shell so the bo...
FIGURE 3-19: This semi-auto shotgun has a fixed forend and a prominent charging...
FIGURE 3-20: The most famous revolver of the Old West, the Colt Peacemaker, was...
FIGURE 3-21: “Hammerless” double actions actually have hammers within their fra...
FIGURE 3-22: By World War II, the 1911 had received a few tweaks to become the ...
FIGURE 3-23: When you fire a 1911, the slide reciprocates and re-cocks the hamm...
FIGURE 3-24: The success of the full-size Glock 17 led to the slightly smaller ...
FIGURE 3-25: Glocks are still recoil operated like almost every other semi-auto...
Chapter 6
FIGURE 6-1: One method for using a cable lock on a semi-auto pistol.
FIGURE 6-2: Here the cable lock passes through a revolver’s barrel.
FIGURE 6-3: Shotguns and rifles are secured the same way with a cable lock.
FIGURE 6-4: A properly installed trigger lock should completely block off the t...
FIGURE 6-5: Anchor smaller gun safes to the wall or floor to prevent their thef...
FIGURE 6-6: This pistol vault has a fingerprint reader, a keypad, and a mechani...
Chapter 8
FIGURE 8-1: Every bore brush in this universal cleaning kit is designed to hand...
FIGURE 8-2: Push the cloth cleaning patch into the barrel from the rear, or bre...
FIGURE 8-3: Use an old rag or towel to wipe up residues and excess solvent.
Chapter 9
FIGURE 9-1: This cutaway illustration identifies the major components of a .45 ...
FIGURE 9-2: The .22 LR (left) and .22 WMR (center) are considered rimmed cartri...
FIGURE 9-3: Note how the two rifle cartridges (far left and far right) compare ...
FIGURE 9-4: Look closely and you can see the rifling inside this gun’s barrel.
FIGURE 9-5: These cartridges are all loaded with full-metal-jacket (FMJ) bullet...
FIGURE 9-6: Today’s hollow points come in a variety of styles, and some have po...
FIGURE 9-7: Hollow points “mushroom” outward upon impact.
FIGURE 9-8: Note the small opening at the tip of this .308 Winchester OTM bulle...
FIGURE 9-9: Soft points have exposed-lead tips that help drive their expansion....
FIGURE 9-10: Underneath this bullet’s polymer tip is a hollow point.
FIGURE 9-11: Solid-copper bullets are highly effective for hunting and are eco-...
FIGURE 9-12: As this cutaway illustration shows, shotshells are loaded with pel...
FIGURE 9-13: Shotshells come in a variety of sizes and colors today.
Chapter 10
FIGURE 10-1: Belt holsters are usually required for pistol training courses at ...
FIGURE 10-2: Of the three types, two-point slings are the most common and versa...
FIGURE 10-3: This close-up shows the white-dot sights on a semi-auto handgun.
FIGURE 10-4: Reflex sights have become very popular additions on handguns.
FIGURE 10-5: This bolt-action rifle is fitted with a variable-power scope and a...
FIGURE 10-6: For greater stability, this rifle is paired with a bipod and a rea...
FIGURE 10-7: Triggerguard-mounted laser sights are available for popular pocket...
Chapter 11
FIGURE 11-1: Never leave your gun out in the open on a car seat.
FIGURE 11-2: This shooter draws from an IWB rig after lifting his shirt with hi...
Chapter 13
FIGURE 13-1: Place your trigger finger alongside your gun’s frame or receiver u...
FIGURE 13-2: Your thumbs should point forward without touching the slide.
FIGURE 13-3: This shooter is holding his shotgun properly.
FIGURE 13-4: This shooter’s left arm drives the gun toward the target while her...
FIGURE 13-5: The isosceles stance is named for the triangle formed by your arms...
FIGURE 13-6: This competitor is shooting on the move using an isosceles stance....
FIGURE 13-7: Note how this Olympic shooter has her support arm braced on her kn...
FIGURE 13-8: For the best results while shooting from prone, flatten your feet....
FIGURE 13-9: Line up the top edges of the front and rear sights, and focus on t...
FIGURE 13-10: This chart shows common accuracy mistakes for right-handed shoote...
Chapter 14
FIGURE 14-1: When a magazine is empty, the follower is visible at the top.
FIGURE 14-2: Note how this shooter has “indexed” his next magazine in his left ...
FIGURE 14-3: Use your nondominant palm to drive the fresh magazine into the pis...
FIGURE 14-4: A “stovepipe” malfunction occurs when a spent casing gets caught i...
Chapter 15
FIGURE 15-1: Can you spot the hunting blind in this photo?
FIGURE 15-2: After you’re safely secured in the tree stand, hoist your gun up t...
FIGURE 15-3: This trap shooter successfully hit a clay pigeon with his over/und...
Chapter 16
FIGURE 16-1: Doorbell cameras are great preventative measures because of their ...
FIGURE 16-2: A dog’s keen hearing and protective instincts can save your life.
Chapter 18
FIGURE 18-1: A clip (left) and a detachable magazine (right).
FIGURE 18-2: The bullet is the projectile loaded into the case.
FIGURE 18-3: These four targets show how accuracy and precision are related.
Guide
Cover
Title Page
Copyright
Table of Contents
Begin Reading
Index
About the Author
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Introduction
Americans own an estimated 400 million firearms. They’re deeply engrained in U.S. culture — and they’re deeply polarizing. Think of all the history and politics wrapped around guns. But regardless of whether you love them or hate them, or whether you grew up around guns or didn’t, I bet that if you take a step back from those experiences and perspectives, you’ll agree that the United States has a serious problem.
In 2020 alone, more than 45,000 Americans died from firearms. That sobering figure includes homicides, suicides, and accidental shootings, many of which were probably preventable.
Call me an idealist, but I believe gun owners ultimately have the biggest role to play in bringing that number down to zero. It’s up to us to practice gun safety, preach gun safety to others, and hold each other accountable. That’s why I’ve written this book, and I’m glad you’re joining me on this journey.
About This Book
Safe Gun Ownership For Dummies is dedicated to helping you become a safe, responsible gun owner, whether you’re brand new to firearms, considering owning one, or already have a few. It covers gun safety rules, the laws and regulations surrounding gun ownership, secure storage requirements, shooting tips, and much more.
Want to learn how guns and ammunition work? This is the book for you. I also take you through the buying process, help you sign up for a high-quality firearms training course near you, and explain how to handle guns in the safest way possible. This book can also give you a leg up in sifting through some of the misinformation about firearms perpetuated in news stories, movies, TV shows, and every corner of the internet.
I guarantee that everyone can learn something from this book — even old pros who could use some refreshers when it comes to safe gun handling.
Finally, because the gun world uses a lot of jargon that developed centuries ago — including quite a few misnomers — as you read, pay attention to any words that appear in italics. These are gun-centric terms that I define along the way to make your life easier. (Don’t worry, there won’t be a vocabulary quiz at the end. Or will there?!)
Foolish Assumptions
You know what happens when you assume … But for this book, I had to make some assumptions about you without even knowing you. Sorry!
The first assumption is that you don’t have much experience with firearms. This is a way to reach as many readers as possible; the book would look very different — and be its own special kind of boring — if I were only writing for retired military or law enforcement personnel, for example, or those who have extensive firearms experience.
However, if you do know your way around guns, my next assumption is that you’re willing to listen. You might learn a few things in the pages ahead.
My last assumption is that you’re a thoughtful, caring person who can legally own a firearm and will do whatever is necessary to safely handle that firearm, secure it when it isn’t being used, and won’t let it fall into the wrong hands. I’m assuming that you’re a good, responsible person and don’t ever want to see anyone hurt. Prove me right.
Icons Used in This Book
As you read this book, you’ll encounter a few special icons in the margins.
Tips are little nuggets of information that will hopefully save you time and effort in some way, shape, or form. The tips in this book could be shortcuts, noteworthy gun-handling techniques, or links to proven resources that will expand your firearms knowledge.
The Warning icons throughout this book will help you steer clear of some of the lethal and legal dangers that go along with firearms. I don’t want you to get hurt or hurt someone else, nor do I want you to end up on the wrong side of the law, so please pay extra-special attention to these cautionary notes.
That said, nothing in this book should be construed as legal advice. I’m not a lawyer, so if you have any questions about any firearm-related laws and regulations where you live, please consult a lawyer.
This icon helps signify more advanced gun knowledge, including specialized tips and techniques as well as discussions of the science behind certain phenomena. If you’re brand new to firearms, feel free to skip these passages. I won’t be mad.
The Reminder icon is paired with essential information that you really need to memorize within each chapter. Most of this material centers around keeping you and your family safe as well as other shooters or hunters, depending on the situation at hand.
Beyond the Book
This book is really just the beginning when it comes to learning about guns and gun safety. Not only should you sign up for a firearms training course after you read through it, but you should also check out the Cheat Sheet prepared specifically for this book, which you can view by visiting www.dummies.com and entering Safe Gun Ownership For Dummies in the Search box.
This Cheat Sheet is a quick-reference guide that offers several gun safety rules to live by as well as a checklist to help you secure your firearm at home and prevent unauthorized access. On top of that, the Cheat Sheet includes a short glossary of gun-centric terms in case you need a reminder.
Bookmark the Cheat Sheet and return to it often!
Where to Go from Here
To get the most out of this book, I recommend reading it from front to back, beginning to end, in order like the good, voracious reader that you are. The material is arranged in the same order I’d offer it in during an in-person firearms training course.
However, I know that you’re busy — never too busy for safety, I hope! — or you might know a few of these topics already, so feel free to skip around. Just know that you might miss some lifesaving advice, cringey jokes, and detailed illustrations along the way.
Part 1
Getting Started with Gun Safety
IN THIS PART …
Discover the four rules of gun safety and how to check whether a firearm is unloaded.
Understand U.S. federal laws and Supreme Court decisions concerning gun ownership, and learn how to find out more about your state and local laws.
Differentiate among the three major types of firearms and discover how they operate in basic terms.
Find out more about the gun-buying process, including background checks and gun shop ettiquette.
Chapter 1
The Basics of Safe Gun Ownership
IN THIS CHAPTER
Learning why people own firearms
Understanding the risks that come with owning a gun
Getting to know the four rules of gun safety
Checking to see whether a gun is loaded
What makes a safe, responsible gun owner, and what differentiates them from someone who simply bought a firearm without a second thought?
Therein lies the answer. It all comes down to thinking.
A responsible gun owner always thinks about safety and the risks of owning a gun. They think about their family members, their friends and neighbors, other gun owners, and people who don’t own guns. They consider every angle, including the example they’re setting for everyone else, and they aren’t afraid to call other gun owners out for unsafe or irresponsible behaviors.
They think before they shoot, before they ever reach for a firearm. They think about how they will maintain control over their weapon in every situation — handling it safely at the range, for example, and securing it when it isn’t being used — to ensure that it’s never misused or falls into the wrong hands.
As you can see, a responsible gun owner has a lot to consider, and throughout this book, I try to help you inhabit that role and turn those thoughts into actions, turn that mindset into a way of living.
To kick things off in this chapter, I explore the most common reasons people own firearms and help you think about some truly important aspects of owning a gun before you hit your local gun shop or sporting goods store. (See what I did there? You’re already getting responsible!)
Also in this chapter, you discover the four lifesaving rules of gun safety and how to safely check to see whether a gun is loaded.
Common Reasons to Own a Firearm
If you want to learn more about firearms or are thinking about purchasing one, it might help to understand why other people choose to own them. There are several legitimate reasons or justifications for owning a gun, including self-defense, hunting, competitive shooting, and more.
The emphasis here is on legitimate uses. Some people seem to own guns just to brag about them or advertise them in social media posts, but those reasons don’t make the cut in my book because they aren’t very responsible. Sorry! #nohardfeelings.
As a responsible gun owner, you should only ever use guns safely, secure them when they aren’t being used, and make sure they don’t end up in the wrong hands. Showing off your guns on social media could intimidate others, for example, or tell someone you have firearms worth stealing.
Gaining a sense of security
According to a Pew Research poll conducted in 2017, 67 percent of gun owners in the U.S. claim that they own a firearm for “protection.” That’s a lot of people. For reference, the 2021 National Firearms Survey estimates that 81.4 million Americans currently own a gun.
Maybe you want to protect your home or have a little extra peace of mind as you walk to your car in a poorly lit parking lot. I get it. There’s no denying the fact that firearms, as lethal instruments, can indeed help you ward off those intent on harming you and your loved ones.
However, as I stress throughout this book, possessing a firearm does not by itself automatically make you safer. To be a responsible gun owner, you have to take a few additional steps, like talking to your family about owning a firearm and teaching them the safety rules (as I discuss in Chapter 5), securing the gun when you aren’t using it (Chapter 6), and obtaining training from a certified firearms instructor (Chapter 12), to name just a few examples.
You also need to remember that a firearm is only ever a last resort when it comes to personal and home defense. To learn more about that particular aspect of gun ownership, head to Chapter 16.
Hunting and recreational shooting
For hundreds of years, people have used firearms to hunt animals and quite literally “bring home the bacon.” (I have so many more jokes for you in the pages ahead. Just you wait.)
Today, along with harvesting meat, people take to the hunting fields to enjoy the Great Outdoors and make memories with friends and family. Done correctly, hunting is actually a way to preserve the land and wildlife for future generations, too, through the fees collected from permits and licenses, as I explain in Chapter 15.
Hunting also gives people a chance to hone their shooting skills, or marksmanship — just like recreational shooting, which includes casual trips to the firing range to hit targets as well as more formal shooting competitions. I believe that you should try to learn from every shot you take to develop your accuracy, whether you’re plinking steel targets with a .22-caliber rifle in your free time or testing your skills on the clock against other competitors. In this way, you’re always growing as a shooter and gun owner.
Hunting and target shooting have spawned entire categories of firearms built specifically for those tasks, and both pursuits have specific rules and regulations to ensure that everyone stays safe and has a good time.
If you’re interested in hunting or competitive shooting, turn to Chapter 15.
Taking part in history
As I discuss in Chapter 3, firearms have played a significant role in shaping human history. Think of all the conflicts and wars waged around the world with guns large and small. Museum collections also showcase guns owned and used by famous and infamous people alike, or those given to royal figures with silver and gold embellishments and delicate engraving as symbols of power and wealth.
Learning about guns is one way to learn about history.
Some people own firearms — either authentic models from a certain period or modern replicas designed to look and operate like their historic forebears — to reenact major battles from the Revolutionary War or Civil War, for example, to relive history and give onlookers a greater sense of how things happened so long ago.
Other people may prefer to collect notable models — maybe guns from a certain time period, or a whole series from one manufacturer or another — as a way of preserving history and passing it on to future generations.
Gun collections can be very personal, too. I’ve lost count of the number of gun owners I’ve met over the years who still have the shotguns or rifles their grandparents used for hunting, or fought with in World War II. In this way, they’re holding onto pieces of history and their families.
If you ever inherit such a collection, you’ll need a sturdy safe that’ll withstand the test of time and keep out moisture. To learn more about secure storage and humidity’s effect on firearms, turn to Chapter 6.
Things to Consider Before Purchasing a Firearm
The decision to purchase a gun should never be taken lightly. Firearms are inherently dangerous. More than 45,000 people were killed by guns in the U.S. in 2020 alone, and a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine in 2014 shows that owning a gun doubles your chances of being murdered and triples your chances of dying by suicide. In fact, those heightened risks apply to anyone who lives under the same roof as you. So if you’re thinking about purchasing one, you have some serious questions to ask yourself, and some serious safety rules to implement, in the hope that you and your family do not add to those heartbreaking statistics.
By the way, if you already own a gun but haven’t thought through these same questions before, it’s never too late to start!
How will you secure it?
This is easily the most important question to ask yourself if you’re thinking of buying a firearm. In a perfect world, the employees at your local gun shop or sporting goods store would show you some of the gun safes they have for sale before you start looking at firearms to give you a better idea of all the options available on the market.
If you aren’t taking your gun to the range or out hunting, for example, it needs to be locked up in a safe in your home so that no unauthorized users can get ahold of it and do bad things with it.
As I discuss in Chapter 6, brand-new guns typically come with cable locks, but they’re easily picked and defeated. So how about a small, steel handgun “vault” that pops open in microseconds after reading your fingerprint? Or a larger safe that requires a keycode for entry and can hold a few rifles and handguns? You can find a gun safe at any price point, from $25 to $10,000 and beyond, with a wide range of security features.
You’ll need ammunition for that gun, and other accessories, so why not add a safe to the shopping list, too?
Who will have access to it?
This question goes hand in hand with the last one. When you secure your gun in a safe, you’re making it harder for unauthorized individuals — including thieves, children, and other people you wouldn’t want handling a firearm — from getting their hands on the thing you may have purchased to protect yourself or your family. You don’t want it causing irreparable damage instead.
It isn’t enough to hide the gun, and you can’t assume that the firearm is too complicated to fire, or that the trigger is too heavy, for example. Sadly, curious children prove these statements wrong every single day.
I also want to point out that several states and Washington, D.C., have “child access prevention” (CAP) laws in place that, although they vary in some ways, penalize those who negligently store their firearms around children.
On the other hand, if you have a spouse or significant other, will they be able to open the safe and grab the gun if, say, someone breaks into your home? More importantly, do they know the four rules of gun safety? Have they taken a firearms training course? Which leads to the next question …
When will you attend a training course?
Imagine that you’ve never driven a car before. You’ve never taken a driver’s ed course; family and friends never taught you how to drive. It would be irresponsible for you to then get behind the wheel of a Lamborghini — a supercar that costs well over $200,000 and can travel faster than 200 miles per hour — right? No right-minded salesperson is going to allow that test drive.
Now think about a 9mm handgun, which can launch bullets that travel well over 700 miles per hour. Would you buy one without taking a “shooter’s ed” course?
I can’t overstate the value of firearms training. In fact, go ahead and add it to your gun-purchasing checklist. Got a safe? Excellent! Enroll in a training course? Even better. You’re on the path to becoming a responsible gun owner.
I know you’re going to read every page of this book twice and recommend it to everyone you see on the streets. Obviously. But as much as I hate to admit it, I can only take you so far. A training course will give you invaluable hands-on experience with firearms and allow you to build muscle memory in a safe, controlled environment under the watchful eye of a certified instructor.
A good trainer can teach you how to handle a gun safely, shoot accurately, build your situational awareness and decision-making skills, and troubleshoot malfunctions. No, watching movies and playing video games won’t cut it, and some states even require that you attend a training course before you can purchase a firearm or obtain a concealed-carry permit.
For more advice on training courses and how to find the right one near you, turn to Chapter 12.
The Four Rules of Gun Safety
Firearms are lethal tools that don’t offer second chances. I can’t stress that point enough. If you aren’t careful when you handle a gun, you could kill or seriously injure yourself or another person, or even multiple people, in a split second that can’t be taken back. There’s no “undo” button here.
To prevent such a tragedy from occurring, you must always follow the four rules of gun safety. Created several decades ago and found throughout the gun world, they’re often called the four “universal” rules because they apply in any context or situation, whether you’re at home or at a gun shop, at a shooting range, deep in the woods on a hunting excursion, or anywhere in between.
Anytime you’re in the presence of a firearm, these four rules should govern your every action. I want you to swear by them, teach them to everyone you can, and call out anyone who breaks these rules. Because if you don’t, that person could hurt others.
These four safety rules are the foundation of responsible gun ownership. I bring them up and repeat them throughout this book, but you should consider bookmarking or dog-earing these pages and regularly returning to them until you’ve memorized the rules.
Rule 1: Treat all guns as if they are loaded
Whenever you encounter or handle a firearm, you should assume that it’s loaded with ammunition and capable of firing — even if someone has told you otherwise. If you’re handed a gun, it’s up to you to verify that the gun is empty. Accidents happen when people assume that a firearm is unloaded and don’t check its status. So, depending on the model, you must remove the magazine, retract the slide or bolt, and inspect the chamber to ensure that no ammunition is present.
I dive into that process in greater detail at the end of this chapter, but you should feel free to ask for help if you need it. No one will judge you.
This “all guns are always loaded” mindset is part of being a safe gun owner, and inspecting a firearm to ensure that it’s empty goes a long way toward showing others that you’re knowledgeable about firearms and respect them.
Rule 2: Never let your muzzle cover anything you aren’t willing to destroy
The phrasing here is heavy, but rightfully so. Firearms are capable of destroying things, so you must always be aware of your surroundings and keep the gun pointed in a safe direction. In many situations, including inside your home, that means keeping the muzzle, or front end of the barrel, pointing straight down toward the ground. That way if the gun does fire for whatever reason, the bullet will hopefully strike the ground without injury.
If you’re at a shooting range, that safe direction will always be downrange, or toward the target. Following this rule to a T means that you keep the firearm pointing toward the target as you take the gun out of its case, load it, shoot it, unload it, set it down, and put it back in its case when you’re done. If you have any questions, ask the range safety officer.
If you’re out hunting, you might carry the gun with the barrel pointing toward the ground or straight up toward the sky. This is especially important because you might have other hunters walking in front of you.
Even if your firearm is unloaded, etiquette dictates that you still keep it pointing in a safe direction. Doing so shows other gun owners that you care about their safety as well as your own.
Rule 3: Keep your finger off the trigger until you’re on target and ready to shoot
Whenever you handle a firearm, you must have good “trigger discipline,” which means keeping your index finger away from the trigger and outside the triggerguard, the plastic or metal loop that surrounds the trigger. Instead, you should keep your index finger fully extended and resting against the side of the gun, just above the triggerguard. This is known as “indexing” your trigger finger.
You may place your finger on the trigger only when you’re on target, your weapon’s sights are aligned, you know what is beyond your target (as I explain in a moment), and you’ve been authorized to shoot and can safely do so. If any of those conditions haven’t been met, your finger must stay away from the trigger.
In other words, 99.9 percent of the time that you’re holding a gun, including when you first pick it up, reload it, unload it, fix a malfunction, and so on, your finger should be indexed alongside the gun’s frame or receiver.
Rule 4: Be sure of your target and what is behind it
You are responsible for every round that leaves your gun — and whatever it comes into contact with. This is why it is vitally important that you take the time to identify both your target and what’s beyond it before you even think about pulling the trigger.
To put it simply, bullets travel at blistering speeds, which is what allows them to penetrate through multiple surfaces before eventually slowing down and coming to a stop.
Many people own guns to protect their homes, but as I mention in Chapter 5, if you attempt to shoot a deadly home invader, for example, that bullet can easily pass through an interior or exterior wall, or several, and hit a family member or another innocent bystander. It could also ricochet off a hard surface and cause more damage.
Because of a bullet’s capabilities, you must always be keenly aware of your surroundings, and if you don’t know what’s behind your target, don’t take the shot. If there’s a chance that you might not hit what you’re aiming at, or that the bullet could stray or ricochet and hit someone else, again, don’t take the shot.
Knowing other important rules to follow
Although the four rules of gun safety are the most widely accepted and publicized rules, they aren’t the only ones you have to follow. I’ve already mentioned a few in this chapter alone, and I cover more in the pages ahead, including these:
Never touch a firearm after you’ve had any drugs or alcohol.
Secure your firearm in a safe when it isn’t being used to keep it away from unauthorized users.
Wear eye and ear protection when operating a firearm.
Use only the correct ammunition in your gun.
Ensure that the gun is safe to operate, and if you have any doubts, unload it completely and let a professional inspect it.
Always listen to and obey authorities when it comes to using firearms, including police officers, game wardens, and range staff.
Again, these are just a few examples. Certain activities and locations require additional safety precautions and regulations, which you’ll discover as you read this book — such as in Chapter 12, where I discuss some of the most common rules posted at shooting ranges.
Checking Whether a Gun is Loaded
Remember that first safety rule: If you encounter a gun, regardless of context, assume that it’s loaded. Even if someone says a gun is empty and then hands it to you, you still need to verify that the gun is actually unloaded. Skipping that step can lead to tragedy — and it happens every single day.
In Chapter 3, I cover all the different types of firearms you might come across today so that you can identify them and learn how they work, and in Chapter 7, I discuss in further detail the steps to safely unload a gun.
Whether you can identify the type of gun or not, you need to 1) keep the gun pointed in a safe direction and 2) keep your fingers away from the trigger.
The next steps change depending on the firearm at hand. If you have access to the gun’s user manual, great — that’ll tell you exactly how to determine whether the gun is unloaded. If you don’t have that manual handy, however, I can help.
Checking semi-automatic pistols
To determine whether a semi-automatic pistol is loaded, follow these steps to remove the magazine and check the chamber, the rear portion of the barrel (far too many people skip that second part):
Look for the magazine release, which is a small button or lever usually to the rear of the trigger and just below it.
Engage the button or lever to make the magazine drop free from the gun’s grip.
If the magazine doesn’t drop free, you might need to tug on the base of it to help free it.
Set the magazine aside.
Retract the slide by holding the gun’s grip in your strong, or dominant, hand, and then use your nondominant hand to grab the slide by the rear serrations and pull it back toward you.
Pointing the gun straight up as you pull rearward on the slide can help a round fall out of the chamber as well.
Pulling the slide back far enough should make it lock back on its own. If it doesn’t, you might need to engage a small button called the slide release. Otherwise, a heavy-duty spring inside the gun will keep trying to return the slide to its forwardmost position.
Look inside the gun to see if the chamber is empty — and then check it again.
If you’ve locked the slide back, you might even want to stick a finger into the rear of the barrel to ensure that it’s clear. (If you can’t fully lock the slide back for whatever reason, avoid using your finger because it’ll get caught in the slide. Ouch!)
Checking revolvers
To determine whether a revolver is loaded, follow these steps:
Locate the cylinder release.
This release is a textured button usually on the left side of the gun and just behind the cylinder, which is the round or cylindrical component that holds all the ammunition.
Use your thumb to activate the cylinder release, which could mean pushing it forward or pulling it rearward.
Pivot the cylinder to the side so that it sticks out of the frame.
Carefully check every single chamber, or hole, within the cylinder to make sure no ammunition is loaded.
You should see daylight through each chamber.
Empty the cylinder quickly by either pointing the gun straight up and letting the rounds or empty casings fall out, or by pushing on the ejector (the rod protruding from the front of the cylinder).
Either technique should clear every chamber in one motion.
Checking rifles or shotguns with detachable magazines
To determine whether this type of rifle or shotgun is loaded, follow these steps:
Look for the magazine release, a button or lever located somewhere near the magazine.
Press the release to make the magazine drop away from the gun.
Locate the bolt, a cylindrical component of the gun that is partially exposed through the ejection port.
Your gun’s user manual can show you where the bolt and bolt/charging handle are positioned.
Retract the bolt by pulling the bolt handle or charging handle rearward until the bolt locks back.
Inspect the gun’s chamber to ensure that it’s empty.
Checking rifles or shotguns with internal magazines
To find out whether a rifle or shotgun with an internal or nondetachable magazine is loaded, follow these steps:
Keep your finger away from the trigger.
Retract the bolt to the rear. Depending on the model, this might mean:
Pulling a bolt or charging handle back as far as you can
Pivoting a lever below the gun’s receiver
Retracting a pump underneath the barrel
You might have to disengage a safety button or lever as well.
Check the firearm’s chamber for ammunition.
To empty any ammunition that’s inside the magazine, run the bolt forward and rearward repeatedly — keeping your fingers away from the trigger — until every cartridge or shotgun shell has been ejected from the gun.
For some rifles, you might also be able to pivot open a bottom floorplate and remove all the ammunition simultaneously.
To learn more about various types of firearms and the differences between, say, internal and detachable magazines, head to Chapter 3.
Chapter 2
Legally Speaking
IN THIS CHAPTER
Getting to know U.S. gun laws
Reviewing Supreme Court decisions
Figuring out state and local restrictions
Looking at gun laws around the world
When it comes to guns laws in the United States, the Second Amendment gets all the attention. Honestly, I can’t think of another amendment in the Bill of Rights with as much fervent support. Gun enthusiasts like to don “Shall not be infringed!” T-shirts and remind each other to “exercise their 2A rights.” But you don’t exactly hear people chanting, “No quartering of soldiers!”
Where’s the 3A love?!
In all seriousness, the Second Amendment is a key aspect to understanding gun ownership in America, but since it was ratified over 230 years ago, a number of firearm regulations have been enacted on the federal, state, and local levels, and the Supreme Court has played a major role, too. A lot has changed in those intervening centuries!
Luckily, I designed this chapter to help you navigate the maze of federal regulations, Supreme Court decisions, and state and local ordinances related to firearms. I want you to stay on the right side of the law, whether you’re brand new to guns or are considering buying another one.
Although I’m well versed in America’s gun laws, I’m also not a lawyer. (My friends and family would never hear the end of it if I passed the bar.) So if you have any questions concerning the legalities of owning a firearm, consult a lawyer in your area.
Understanding U.S. Federal Gun Regulations
Every year, tens of thousands of Americans die in car accidents. To counter the dangers posed by motor vehicles, the U.S. government mandates that cars come with turn signals, seatbelts, airbags, backup cameras, and other safety equipment, and that they meet or exceed certain crash-testing standards, to name a few examples of safety measures. State governments also have laws concerning licenses, registration, speed limits, drunk driving, and much more.
So far, these safeguards have worked in reducing the traffic fatality rate. Although the country experienced more than 50,000 traffic fatalities per year in the 1960s, before many of these regulations were put in place, that number was down to just over 32,000 by 2014, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Similarly, federal, state, and local authorities have created certain guard rails or “rules of the road,” if you will, for firearms because they are inherently dangerous. To understand the federal regulations, we have to go back to 1791.
The Second Amendment and its interpretations
Of all the amendments to the U.S. Constitution, the Second Amendment is perhaps the most controversial. Ratified on December 15, 1791, along with nine other amendments that later became known as the Bill of Rights, the Second Amendment states, “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”
It’s a short sentence that leaves a frustrating amount of room for interpretation. For example, some people take the second half — “the right of the people to keep and bear Arms” — to mean that every individual has a constitutionally protected right to “keep and bear Arms.” This is known as the “individual rights theory,” and some believe it prohibits, or at least restricts, the federal government from regulating the ownership of weapons.
Others point to the beginning of the sentence — the “well regulated Militia” clause — to argue that the Framers of the Constitution only intended to restrict Congress from infringing on a state’s ability to raise a militia from civilians if needed, and that federal, state, and local authorities can still regulate firearms without impacting constitutionally protected rights. This is known as the “collective rights theory.”
What does history say? James Madison, who proposed the Second Amendment, originally wrote about the topic in Federalist No. 46, in a time when people feared that a strong centralized federal government could potentially become too powerful like the British monarchy and rule over the states. Madison argued that state militias “would be able to repel the danger” of a federal army in that situation.
Moreover, the Bill of Rights limited the federal government’s powers, not the states’ powers. The Fourteenth Amendment, ratified in 1868, says that “No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.” The Supreme Court has interpreted this amendment to extend most of the constraints in the Bill of Rights to the states.
Finally, throughout American history, the federal government, as well as state and local governments, have regulated the ownership and use of firearms, as I discuss in the pages ahead.
The National Firearms Act of 1934
To fight the gangland crime of the Prohibition era, with incidents like the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre of 1929 capturing headlines across the country, Congress enacted the first major federal regulations on firearms.
The National Firearms Act (NFA) of 1934 requires the registration of certain weapons considered too dangerous to own among civilians, including:
Machine guns,
or weapons that automatically fire more than one shot per trigger pull
Silencers,
or sound suppressors, that muffle the sound of gunfire and make it difficult to identify where a shot came from
Short-barreled rifles,
or shoulder-fired weapons with rifled barrels shorter than 16 inches
Short-barreled shotguns,
or shoulder-fired weapons with smoothbore barrels shorter than 18 inches
Other easily concealable weapons
that fall into an “any other weapon” (AOW) category
I know those last three are a little confusing. Why do rifle and shotgun barrels have to be at least 16 and 18 inches long, respectively?
The original intent of the NFA was to restrict handguns — which, to this day, account for most gun deaths in the U.S. — as well as any other firearm that someone could hide on their person, say, under a trench coat or in a small bag. Think of the Tommy guns (shown in Figure 2-1) and sawed-off shotguns that gangsters unleashed on unsuspecting victims. But somewhere along the way, Congress dropped the handgun provision and kept the rest.
Courtesy of orcearo/123 RF
FIGURE 2-1: The NFA placed restrictions on fully automatic weapons like Tommy guns.
If you need help distinguishing among handguns, rifles, and shotguns, I’ve got you covered in Chapter 3.
To own an NFA-regulated item, such as a silencer or short-barreled rifle, you must submit an application to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) with a copy of your fingerprints, a passport-style photo, and a $200 payment known as a “tax stamp.” Applicants then undergo a strict background check that can take several months to make sure they’re eligible to own one of these items.
If you’re approved, you may take possession of the NFA weapon, but because of the registration requirements, if you ever want to sell it or transfer ownership to another individual, they must submit their own application, pay the $200 tax stamp, and so on.
According to the ATF, the paperwork and $200 tax stamp — equivalent to $4,224 in today’s dollars — were meant to “discourage or eliminate transactions in these firearms,” but the $200 tax has not changed since 1934.
That said, the system appears to work. Crimes are rarely committed with properly registered NFA firearms, and federal regulations impose stiff penalties on those who possess unregistered NFA firearms. For example, if you alter your gun’s internal components so that it can fire more than one shot per trigger pull, you’re facing up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.
The Federal Firearms Act of 1938
In 1938, Congress enacted the Federal Firearms Act (FFA), which required that gun makers, importers, and dealers obtain a Federal Firearms License (FFL), and that gun dealers keep records for every firearm sold. It also prohibited certain people, including fugitives and those convicted of a violent crime, from purchasing guns. By 1961, the prohibition applied to all felons.
The Gun Control Act of 1968
Following the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy in November 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. in April 1968, and Robert F. Kennedy in June of that same year, Congress enacted the Gun Control Act (GCA) of 1968, which revised and replaced some provisions of the earlier Federal Firearms Act while adding new regulations.
In particular, the GCA required that all weapons manufactured after October 22, 1968, feature serial numbers that could be logged by gun dealers for every sale, and if someone tried to remove, or deface, that serial number, they could face up to five years in prison.
The act also banned the importation of certain weapons not designed for “sporting purposes” (that is, hunting or target shooting) and the sale of mail-order guns because Lee Harvey Oswald ordered the Italian rifle he used to kill President Kennedy from an ad in the NRA’s American Rifleman magazine.
Finally, the GCA implemented Form 4473, which is used to record all gun sales between licensed gun dealers and unlicensed individuals, and it prohibited specific classes of individuals from owning firearms, including felons, minors, fugitives, and more.
To learn more about the gun-buying process and Form 4473, read Chapter 4.
The Firearm Owners Protection Act of 1986
Unlike the previous acts, the Firearm Owners Protection Act (FOPA) of 1986 loosened several regulations related to firearms. Notably, it prohibited the ATF from
