Adding a 5th Rule to the Basic Rules of Firearm Safety?

[sm]

3 Rules of Gun Safety

Is how I was raised as well.

1. All guns are always loaded.

2. Never let the muzzle cover anything you are not willing to destroy.

3. Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on target; be sure of your target and backstop.



Later Rule 3 was split to make Rule 4 pretty much, if you compare these with Guncite's 4 Rules if you will.

Personally I feel Less is More, and the K.I.S.S Principle is best.
To me 3 Rules are better than 4 or more.

 

[Kind of Blued]

Augmentations are detrimental. Verbosity causes confusion. Poignancy is the key.

Under close analysis, the "golden rule" is the only rule which is truly necessary. If the finger is kept off of the trigger, no harm can be done, and nobody's safety can be infringed *. If the finger goes on to the trigger once the sights are on target (the true target), nothing will ever accidentally be shot. Having a proper backstop comes into play only if you have planned inappropriately, armed yourself inappropriately, or you are going to miss.

"Firearm safety" is different from "firearm etiquette". The former includes muzzle control as a redundant safety measure.

Times come (self defense) when believing the first rule of firearm safety could get you killed, and death is the antithesis of safety.

As long as rules two and three are followed, negligent discharges will cease to exist. Rule four assures very little in the way of safety as the definition of "target" is individualistic. As long as one keeps their finger off the trigger until their sights are on target (as opposed to something that they thought was their target), nothing will ever be shot accidentally.

* <edit> The instance of a dropped gun causes problems in this instance. With a modern firearm, the golden rule need only apply. This can be done by putting one's hands in the "surrender" position, assuming that the gun was not being held with arms outstretched directly upward. With a "non drop safe" firearm and non-ninja skills, your best bet is to pucker and pray.