Excerpts from the USPSA rule book

THE FOUR LAWS OF GUN CONTROL

If you learn nothing else from practical shooting, learn the four laws that are

the foundation of all safe gun handling. Remember...

Someday you will have an accidental discharge*!

The only questions are when, where, and how. If you are obeying the four

laws of gun control when it happens, it will be scary. If you're not, it could be

tragic.

FIRST LAW... THE GUN IS ALWAYS LOADED!

EVERY TIME you pick up or draw a gun, inspect it in a safe manner (control

your muzzle) and always treat it as a loaded gun.

SECOND LAW... NEVER POINT THE GUN AT SOMETHINGYOU ARE

NOT PREPARED TO DESTROY!

The only safe way to operate is to assume the worst case scenario: Pretend

that your “empty” gun is going to function perfectly. When you press the trigger

it will FIRE! Since you are prepared for that, you only point the gun in a safe

direction. This way when brainfade does result in an AD, it will be into a safe

impact area and there won’t be a tragedy.

THIRD LAW... ALWAYS BE SURE OF YOUR TARGET AND WHAT IS

BEHIND IT!

Bullets can penetrate lots of things. Identify your target before firing. If you

are not sure, DON’T shoot! Make sure there is a safe impact area behind it before

firing. For home practice, find and aim only at a BULLET PROOF BACKSTOP.

Plasterboard walls and outer walls are not bulletproof. A .45 bullet will easily

travel through several rooms before stopping.

FOURTH LAW... KEEP YOUR FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER UNTIL

YOUR SIGHTS ARE ON THE TARGET!

Almost all of the accidental discharges during a match are caused by placing

a finger on the trigger when not ready to fire.

Some examples: Finger on trigger during reloading, during movement, during

the draw, and during jam clearing have all led to accidental dischargess and disqualifications.

Finger on the trigger during reloading or movement calls for instant

disqualification (you don’t have to AD) and two ROs are watching for just that.

 

PRACTICAL SHOOTING ETIQUETTE

When you shoot with other practical shooters, there are certain behavioral

rules that all our shooters live by. They are codified in the formal rule book, but

we've condensed a few of the more important ones into the next few pages.

Once your gun is holstered, LEAVE ITALONE Unless you are on the firing

line and a range officer is directing you , you cannot "fiddle" with your gun.

For safety reasons, you will be disqualified if you draw your gun from the holster

without the permission of an RO. (See safety area for the exception.)

Keep your finger OFF the trigger until your sights are ON the target.

Get in the habit of extending the trigger finger. When you move, reload, or clear

a jam, your finger must be outside the trigger guard -- otherwise you will be disqualified.

GEARING UP - AT THE CAR OR IN THE SAFETY AREA? You can

put your holster, mag pouches, and magazines on anywhere, but always, always

bring your cased or holstered gun to the SAFETY AREA.

The SAFETYAREAis the ONLYarea of the match aside from the firing lines

where gun handling is allowed. Signs should be posted that tell what the conditions

of use are. Some clubs allow dry-fire practice here, some only permit checking

of weapons. If your gun breaks, this is where you take it for field repairs. If

George wants to show you his Blastatron 10, this is where he would do it.

Technically, competitors are permitted to use the safety areas to:

• Case, uncase, and holster unloaded firearms.

• Practice drawing, “dry-firing” and re-holstering of unloaded firearms.

• Practice the insertion and removal of empty magazines and/or to cycle the

action of a handgun.

• Conduct inspections, stripping, cleaning, repairs and maintenance of

firearms, component parts and other accessories.

You may load magazines anywhere BUT in the safety area. NO LOADED

GUNS OR AMMO HANDLING IN THE SAFETY AREA, EVER! Even handling

dummy ammunition in the safety area will get you "DQ'ed."

WHAT ABOUT MY CARRY GUN? A great many of our shooters carry

handguns in the course of their regular lives. It is the shooter's responsibility to

divest themselves of their loaded handgun BEFORE they arrive at the match

proper. Most unload or "un-gun" in the car, just as though they were about to walk

into an airport or county courthouse. However, if you are unsure of local laws, we

encourage you to come to the match with the gun empty, and in a case.

READ THE SHOOTER STAGE INFORMATION. This is just a good

idea. Find the official set posted at the registration desk and read it. It will show

how each stage is going to be run, and will have any last minute changes or corrections.

You need this data to plan your strategy. (Got a strategy?)

DON'T BE A GUN STORE COMMANDO. Camouflage clothing and

shirts with those clever macho sayings favored by “Commando Wanna-Be’s” are

out of place in our sport.