3 ms·

I second this, if only for personal safety. If you ever find yourself in a situation where you're unexpectedly responsible for a firearm, you should know how to

by basseq 9y ago

I second this, if only for personal safety. If you ever find yourself in a situation where you're unexpectedly responsible for a firearm, you should know how to engage the safety, eject the magazine, clear the chamber, and ensure the safety of those around you. If you happen to find a handgun, or take one away from a child, knowledge is a virtue.

Zak 9y ago
> you should know how to engage the safety, eject the magazine, clear the chamber, and ensure the safety of those around you Note that if you try to do it in this order, you will fail with some firearms because the safety locks the slide.
OliverJones 9y ago
All of those things. And, point it at the ground, OK?
ethanhunt_ 9y ago
Really is a waste of time in my opinion. Despite appearances from the media, if someone in the US does not want to see firearms in their life, it is very very unlikely that they will ever see firearms (besides police officers') and even more unlikely that they would see a loose one that they should pick up to clear. It's advice on par with telling someone to set aside money in their retirement for a nuclear bunker.
- bmelton 9y ago
  I think your analogy oversteps -- it's really more akin to teaching people how to use a fire extinguisher, even though they're unlikely to ever encounter a fire. According to the ATF[1], there are more firearms in America than people. The idea that you might live your whole life and never see one is far from a given, though rurality vs. urbanality almost certainly affects this, as well as the carry laws in the area you live. The statement is almost certainly more true in somewhere like California than it is in Alaska, but in my experience, definitely doesn't hold true for "America" on the whole.
  - basseq 9y ago
    I was going to use CPR as an example. How many people have been trained in CPR vs. those who have actually used it? That said, the strength of my recommendation is not very strong, but if you're asking, "Why should I take a pistol class?", general safety is a good reason.

by basseq 9y ago

Zak 9y ago

> you should know how to engage the safety, eject the magazine, clear the chamber, and ensure the safety of those around you Note that if you try to do it in this order, you will fail with some firearms because the safety locks the slide.

OliverJones 9y ago

All of those things. And, point it at the ground, OK?

ethanhunt_ 9y ago

Really is a waste of time in my opinion. Despite appearances from the media, if someone in the US does not want to see firearms in their life, it is very very unlikely that they will ever see firearms (besides police officers') and even more unlikely that they would see a loose one that they should pick up to clear. It's advice on par with telling someone to set aside money in their retirement for a nuclear bunker.

bmelton 9y ago
I think your analogy oversteps -- it's really more akin to teaching people how to use a fire extinguisher, even though they're unlikely to ever encounter a fire. According to the ATF[1], there are more firearms in America than people. The idea that you might live your whole life and never see one is far from a given, though rurality vs. urbanality almost certainly affects this, as well as the carry laws in the area you live. The statement is almost certainly more true in somewhere like California than it is in Alaska, but in my experience, definitely doesn't hold true for "America" on the whole.
- basseq 9y ago
  I was going to use CPR as an example. How many people have been trained in CPR vs. those who have actually used it? That said, the strength of my recommendation is not very strong, but if you're asking, "Why should I take a pistol class?", general safety is a good reason.