The Four Rules
The four foundational firearms safety rules — the rules that prevent every accidental injury.
Also: Cooper's Rules, four safety rules
Jeff Cooper’s Four Rules are the bedrock of firearms safety. (1) Treat every firearm as if it is loaded. (2) Never point the muzzle at anything you are not willing to destroy. (3) Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on the target and you have decided to fire. (4) Be sure of your target and what is beyond it. Two rules must fail simultaneously for an accident to occur — that’s the design. The rules are not optional, not subordinate to mechanical safeties, and not negotiable.