Nambu wrote:
The most important part of this lesson is, the word "point" refers not to your intention, but to the physical direction of the muzzle.
After dwelling on this for a moment, you realize the gun is ALWAYS pointed SOMEWHERE, even when it's in a holster.
The key is to always keep it pointed in the SAFEST possible direction.
I'm sure that the shooter who had this ND wasn't consciously pointing it anywhere, nevertheless the muzzle was still facing something that wasn't a target, i.e. not the safest possible direction. At the range, downrange is the only place the muzzle should point, because that is the safest direction. At home, it will be different - if you are upstairs and people are downstairs, pointing at the floor is not safest. If you are downstairs and people are upstairs, likewise. It requires a bit of thought to always determine the safest direction. That is what this rule does, it implies that one should always be THINKING when handling a gun. And THINKING will prevent the vast majority of ND's.
I was taught by my father and have taught my children, never point a gun at anything you do not intend to shoot.
The most important part of this lesson is, the word "point" refers not to your intention, but to the physical direction of the muzzle.
After dwelling on this for a moment, you realize the gun is ALWAYS pointed SOMEWHERE, even when it's in a holster.
The key is to always keep it pointed in the SAFEST possible direction.
I'm sure that the shooter who had this ND wasn't consciously pointing it anywhere, nevertheless the muzzle was still facing something that wasn't a target, i.e. not the safest possible direction. At the range, downrange is the only place the muzzle should point, because that is the safest direction. At home, it will be different - if you are upstairs and people are downstairs, pointing at the floor is not safest. If you are downstairs and people are upstairs, likewise. It requires a bit of thought to always determine the safest direction. That is what this rule does, it implies that one should always be THINKING when handling a gun. And THINKING will prevent the vast majority of ND's.