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4 Examples Of Proper Etiquette When Visiting A Gun Store

Will you be visiting a gun store for the first time to make a purchase? You should know that there is some common etiquette that you need to follow when you are in this type of retail setting. Follow these tips to know what you should and should not do. 

Treat Every Weapon As If It Was Loaded

One of the most basic gun safety rules that you should follow is to treat every gun as if it was loaded. While you may assume that the firearms at the store are not going to be loaded, the proper etiquette is to treat them as if they are. This is expected any time you are holding a gun in any situation, not just in a store. While this is common sense to anyone who has been around guns in the past, it will really help the following rules make sense.

Check To Make Sure The Gun Isn't Loaded

A good habit to have when handling a gun is to check to make sure that it isn't loaded. If you are not sure how to do this, then ask the employee that you are working with to show you how to check it. You should always check to see if a gun is loaded when it is handed to you, even if you've handed it off to another person temporarily. 

Don't Put Your Finger On The Trigger

Many people instinctively pick up a gun and end up putting their finger on the trigger, which is something that you should never do unless you intend to fire the weapon. If you want to know how a firearm feels in your hands, you should be putting your index finger on the outside of the gun by keeping it straight.

Pay Attention To The Barrel Direction

It's important to pay attention to the direction of the barrel when you are holding it. You should be pointing it toward the floor rather than towards the direction of employees or other customers. If you do want to hold the gun in a more natural position, ask where it is safe to do so. You may be directed to take it to a firing range where you point the gun down range, which is always a safe place to point a gun.

These are just a few ways to show proper etiquette when visiting a gun store. Ask one of the employees for more tips on what you should and shouldn't do during your visit. 


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