Monday, May 11, 2009

BB Gun safety

BB gun safety is extremely important. You have probably been told more than once that BB guns are not toys. And yet, many people still treat them as such.
The same gun safety rules must be followed when using BB guns as when using any other type of gun. Here are some of the most important BB gun safety rules: Treat all guns as though they are loaded. Never assume that a gun is not loaded.
• Never point your BB gun at anyone. It does not matter if it is not loaded!
• Check out both local and federal laws and regulations. Different states have different BB gun safety laws and rules. Certain guns are not allowed in certain places.
• Do not fire at a target unless you know everything surrounding the target. Do not shoot if there is a potential that someone is behind or on the sides of the target… you might miss!
• Keep your finger off of the trigger until you are ready to fire.
• Always wear protective eyewear. Also wear a protective mask.
• Start out shooting at a shooting range. It is a good and much safer place to learn how to shoot.
• Do not allow minors (persons under 18 years of age) to shoot any type of gun (not even a BB gun) without active adult supervision.
• Now that BB guns are made to look more and more realistic, some people can mistake them for real guns. This makes them potentially dangerous! If someone (including and especially a policeman) thinks you have a real gun, he or she may act differently around you. You could be putting yourself and others in danger. Do not carry your BB gun in a public place. Doing so may actually be illegal in your state.
• Do not alter the color of your BB gun. If it has a fluorescent orange tip, that is for a reason! Policeman have been known to shoot and fire upon children who have removed the safety orange color form their guns, because the policemen could no longer recognize the guns as anything but real guns.
• Always check to make sure the gun is not loaded. Point the gun away from people and animals and squeeze the trigger (again, avoid pointing it at things that it might ricochet off )
• Keep care of your gun. A damaged or dirty gun is more likely to cause injury.
• One rule of BB gun safety that is too often overlooked is that you should always use new ammo in your BB gun. It does not matter if it is expensive. Not doing so is dangerous and can degrade your gun more quickly.
• Realize that BBs can ricochet. Be aware of the type of surface you are shooting at.