by Chris Cerino
Chris Cerino, left, is a nationally known firearms instructor and competitor who’s
been training law enforcement officers and military for more than 12 years, and
has worked in peace keeping positions for municipal, county, state and federal
agencies spanning more than 20 years. He is the director of training for Chris
Cerino Training Group LLC. Contact him by phone: 330-608-6415, or email:
chris@cerinotraininggroup.com.
Firearms owners are living in a climate heretofore unseen. How we look, act and speak is under the scrutiny of the public eye. As a Second Amendment proponent who is no snappy dresser, nor cunning linguist, I have little room to be cautioning others in these trying times. Fact is, as I sit here in my worn out blue jeans, camouflaged pullover, matching slippers and NRA country ball cap, I’d like nothing more than to tell the world that they can pry my guns from my cold dead hands, but I won’t.
Folks all around the country are buying up ammunition, guns and magazines at unprecedented rates and the world knows it. Attendance at gun shows, CCW classes and shooting ranges has increased with such intensity that the media and anti-gun public can’t help but notice. What they will also notice is how we behave in the process. We will need to be guarded in our behaviors, words and safety. The future depends on it.
I travel and shoot all around the country both as a trainer and competitor.
The gun enthusiasts and shooters I encounter never cease to amaze me with their levels of competency and safety. However, there is always one.
One who scares me and everyone around me. Don’t be “the one.” To hell with my attire and rough talk, avoiding the negative media limelight starts with safety.
We have millions of guns in homes, hundreds of monthly gun shows, public and private practice ranges, weekly competitions and year-round hunters.
Day after day and month after month we go on. Anti-gunners really have no idea. The problem is “the one.” His or her failure represents us all. The fella that has an unintentional discharge at the gun show, the woman who fails to lock up her guns from an unstable child or the man who accidentally shoots his hunting partner! That’s who represents us in the public’s eyes.
You can avoid being “the one,” or even enabling “the one,” by keeping in mind the basic safety rules that we are all expected to know off the top of our heads. How many gunowners do you know that can recite these basic rules on command? I’ve asked instructor level classes to write down the four firearms safety rules at the beginning of classes to check their knowledge level. Most cannot write all four down.
Just in case, here they are again: • Treat all firearms as if they are loaded • Never point a firearm at anything you don’t intend to shoot or destroy • Keep your finger off the trigger and outside of the trigger guard until you have made a conscious decision to shoot • Be aware of your target, backstop and beyond Fact is, you might violate any one of these rules and survive the outcome.
It’s when we violate multiple rules that bad things happen. There are very few times, if ever, that I handle a firearm and don’t think of one or more of the four standard safety rules.
How many accidents happen on a daily basis that we never hear about? I am sure that there are more than we will ever know. From time to time people will share with me personal stories, about close calls. The fact is, unless you shoot yourself or something of value that can’t be covered up, no one usually hears of it. Trust me, I know! Now, more than ever, we need to be vigilant and mindful of these safety rules. We need to live by them and educate those around you as well.
The political climate is bringing new people to gun ownership and the shooting sports. These new owners are showing up at shooting ranges, training classes and competitions with little to no knowledge of weapon handling. Don’t be afraid of hurting their feelings when they violate any of the safety rules, but don’t scare them away either. Safety can be enforced and mentored in a firm, nonoffensive way. We don’t want to make people afraid of guns or afraid to come to the range. I’ve seen it happen and even had it happen to me and my family. We need them to learn to respect firearms so that they may become good ambassadors of the shooting sports and firearms ownership.
Those people aren’t going to go home and sell their guns because you scolded them about safety. They are still going to own and handle guns. If you scare a new gun owner or competitor from your range, instead of helping them through education and training, you’ve done nothing good for our cause.
Right now we have a tremendous opportunity to grow the firearms industry and shooting sports. Take good advantage of it. We are the face of the firearms future, so let’s put on a good face.
Until next time.
Those who can, do.
Those who understand, should teach.
