Firearms Safety

We at Elite Training Center believe in providing our students with an environment that is safe to learn and practice the martial arts in.  From our facilities, to our structured curricula, to our skilled instructors, everything is gear towards safety.  So when it comes to owning/training with firearms it should come as no surprise that for us, safety is priority number one.  Firearms safety must always be in the forefront of your mind, whether you are getting in a little practice at the local range, competing in a shooting event/competition or out hunting with your family or friends.  Your enjoyment of the shooting sports will come to a quick halt if you become complacent about firearms safety.  The firearms instructors at Elite Training Center teach and abide by Universal Firearms Handling Rules:

1. Treat ALL guns as if they are ALWAYS loaded.
2. NEVER point your gun at anything you are not willing to shoot.
3. Keep your finger OFF the trigger until your sights are on the target.
4. Be sure of your TARGET and what is BEHIND and BEYOND it.

Adhering to these four, rather simple rules whenever handling firearms, will help to ensure that you and the people around you are safe and enjoy the shooting sports.  Through regular practice these four safety rules will become second nature for you, but what if you are out with others (at the range or out hunting) who are uniformed as to proper safety procedures or might maybe are not as concerned with safety as you are.  Well, by following the Basic Range Safety Procedures you can do at least your part to ensure that those around you are being safe as possible.  The Basic Range Safety Procedures are as follows:

1. Treat all firearms as if they are loaded.
2. Always keep firearms pointed in a safe direction (down range or away from others).
3. Clear all firearms on and off the firing line (or before and after use).
4. Follow all commands given by the range officials.
5. Never load your firearm until told to do so by range officials.
6. Shoot only when given the command “Fire” or “Fire at will” by range officials.
7. Immediately stop firing and point your firearm in a safe direction when given the command “Cease Fire!” BY ANYONE ON THE RANGE.

Firearms safety doesn’t end when the shooting is done and you are on your way back home.  Did you know that vast majority of firearms accidents happen within the home?  Why would this be?  Well, mainly because many people forget about firearms safety once they get home.  Simply put, they let their guard down.  Firearms safety is a twenty four hour a day commitment and firearms safety in the home is just (and in some cases more) important than when you are actively shooting.  First off, firearms and alcohol (or drugs) DO NOT MIX…..EVER!  If you have had even one drink, you should consider yourself impaired and never handle a firearm.  Additionally, you should never allow anybody who has had a drink to handle firearms, yours or theirs.  If you are a guest of somebody who is mixing alcohol (or drugs) and firearms, you should leave immediately.

The most frequent cause of firearms accidents in the home is unattended or unsecured firearms.  You should never leave a firearm (loaded or unloaded) unsecured, where it may be handled by an unsupervised individual.  If you have children in your home, you should always secure all of your firearms when not in your direct sight.  In fact many states including California have laws that regulate the storing of firearms in your home.  In California you can be found guilty of a crime if you allow a loaded weapon to be obtained and improperly used by a minor.  All firearms should be unloaded and properly secured when they are stored in your home.  Your ammunition should be stored separately from your firearms and access to that ammunition should be highly controlled.

Another frequent cause of firearms accidents in the home are negligent discharges (accidental firings) during or immediately following dry fire practice.  While there is nothing inherently unsafe with conducting dry fire practice and staying proficient with your firearms skills is part of firearms safety, dry fire practice must be conducted in a systematic manner that ensures your training is not only productive but safe for you and those around you.  Following the Safe Room Training Procedures (Dry Fire Practice) will help you meet those objectives:

1. Remember the Universal Firearms Handling Rules are ALWAYS in effect!
2. Select the proper time and place to conduct training (away from others or where others may enter or pass by).
3. Remove ALL LIVE AMMUNITION from you training area (secure it in another room).
4. Use only orange plastic training ammunition during your training period (do not use “dummy rounds” or other metallic training rounds).
5. Go into “practice” (conduct your drills).
6. When practice is over, go back into “reality” mode.
7. Return firearm to the condition you normally keep it in (which should be unloaded in most instances).
8. Return your firearm to its normal “storage” place IMMEDIATELY (preferable in a securely locked storage container).

The firearms instructors at Elite Training Center firmly believe in, and teach the principles of firearms safety.  They are extremely knowledgeable in mitigating safety concerns to keep you, your family and your guests safe in the presence of firearms.  If you have question regarding firearms safety, what to do if you see unsafe acts or how to properly store your unattended firearms or ammunition, be sure to ask to speak to one of our firearms instructors.

Elite Training Center supports legal, responsible and safe firearms ownership.  We provide firearms training and consultation to our students and members of the law enforcement and military communities as a service to those individuals and to further those ideals.  It is the responsibility of each firearms owner to fully know and understand the laws of their state that govern firearms ownership.  Furthermore we believe that all firearms owners should partake in regular firearms training to ensure safe responsible firearms handling and full enjoyment in the shooting sports.

Instructor William Green
ECCE·EGO·MITTE·ME

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Elite Training Center
1628 South Pacific Coast Highway,
Redondo Beach, CA 90277
(310) 543-1600
www.elitetrainingcenter.net

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Firearms Safety

Firearms Safety

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