Firearm Safety: More Than a Switch

It was supposed to be a quiet end to a day of deer hunting. Michael Wahler, then just a kid, was unloading his rifle alongside his father and brother—no finger on the trigger, no reason for concern. However, the moment he flipped off the safety, the gun immediately fired. No one was hurt that day—only because Wahler had followed a fundamental firearm safety rule: always keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction.

Wahler was taught firearm safety by his father, a World War (WW) II Army Air Corps veteran, and his grandfather, a WWI Army veteran. They exposed him to firearms as soon as he was old enough to be responsible, Wahler explained. That early exposure built habits he carried into a twenty-year Air Force career, where he completed annual firearm qualifications and earned expert marksman status multiple times. Today, Wahler is a licensed concealed carry permit holder in Illinois—one of the strictest states in the country—and continues to train regularly. With decades of experience, he now shares his perspective on what it really means to handle a firearm safely.

Treat Every Firearm as if It Is Loaded

The first basic rule? Treat every gun as if it is loaded. “Regardless of whether you are one hundred percent sure that gun is not loaded, you treat it as if it’s loaded,” Wahler states. Even while cleaning his firearms with everything disassembled, Wahler maintains strict discipline: “That barrel never gets pointed at anything that I don’t intend to shoot.”

He is quick to remind everyone what he learned early on: that safeties can and do fail. “The safety is a mechanical device—it can fail. So even if the safety is on and the gun is unloaded, you still treat the gun as if it’s loaded.”

Always Keep the Muzzle Pointed in a Safe Direction

This rule ties directly into Wahler’s first: “Always make sure the muzzle is pointed in a safe direction—never at anything you don’t intend to shoot.” He explains that a “safe direction” means one where a bullet could not possibly injure someone—not just in a direct line, but also accounting for ricochets or penetration through walls, floors, or ceilings.

“Sometimes the safe direction is up, sometimes it’s down,” he explains. “If I’m on concrete, I don’t want to point the gun at the ground—it could ricochet. On sod, it’s okay because the bullet will penetrate into the ground.”

Knowing where your muzzle is pointed at all times should become second nature, he says. “To quote the National Shooting Sports Foundation, if everyone handled a firearm so carefully that the muzzle never pointed at something they didn’t intend to shoot, there would be virtually no firearms accidents.”

Keep Firearms Unloaded When Not in Use

If a firearm is not being used, it should be unloaded—whether it is in a vehicle, inside a building, or out in the field. “You have no reason to have a loaded gun in your car unless you need it for protection,” Wahler says. Any time a firearm changes hands—whether you are giving or receiving it—the action should be open, and you should personally inspect the chamber, receiver, and magazine. “Never assume it’s safe just because someone says it is,” he adds.

The same rule applies in the field. “If you’re climbing into a tree stand, unload your gun and open the action. Always put safety first.”

Know Your Target and What Lies Beyond It

Wahler emphasized the importance of being certain not only of your target but also of what lies beyond it. Even lower-caliber firearms can send projectiles a significant distance. A .22 short round, one of the least powerful firearms available, can travel more than a mile in optimal conditions. A .30-06 rifle round can travel more than three miles. Understanding the range and power of a given round is critical for safe firearm use.

Civilian versus Military Safety

Wahler notes that although military and civilian firearm safety instructors share core principles, some practices differ. Firearm safety in the military balances risk assessment with combat readiness—understanding when to prioritize immediate action over caution.

“In the military, you’re trained to always have a round in the chamber,” he says. “In civilian life, I was taught the opposite—never have a round chambered until you need it.” Likewise, the military teaches carrying handguns such as the Beretta M9 with the safety off. “You don’t want to be fumbling with the safety while the bad guy is already pulling the trigger.”

When Equipment Fails

“If you’re an automobile owner or a home appliance owner—if you own anything mechanical—you know that anything mechanical can fail,” Wahler reminds us. Even the safety switch can go awry. Years after Wahler’s childhood deer-hunting incident, his father discovered that the rifle—made by a reputable manufacturer—had a known defect that caused accidental discharges when switching off the safety. Defect or not, even with the safety on, a strong enough jolt can still cause the gun to fire. However, keeping the safety fully on is still a needed layer of protection. Wahler stressed that a firearm’s safety should always be fully on or fully off—never in between. “Half-safe is unsafe,” he said.

Another danger is squib loads—when a bullet lodges in the barrel due to insufficient powder. “If something doesn’t sound or feel right, stop immediately and inspect the firearm,” Wahler says. He shared a personal story of firing several rounds without realizing a squib had occurred. Multiple bullets ended up lodged in the barrel—a situation that could have caused the gun to explode had he fired again.

He also noted that misfires—when a round does not go off after the trigger is pulled—should be handled with care. Keep the firearm pointed in a safe direction and wait before clearing it because delayed discharges can happen.

Store Firearms Safely

Whether or not children are in the home, Wahler says safe storage is non-negotiable. “Kids are climbers. You can’t just hide a gun in a drawer and assume they won’t find it. Firearms should be unloaded, with the action open, and locked in a vault or safe.” Even if your home is child-free, he points out that children might visit. “Parents are absolutely within their rights to ask if there are firearms in a friend’s house before allowing their child to play there. And if your child finds a gun, they need to know what to do. “Turn around, walk away, and tell an adult,” Wahler says.

As Wahler’s daughter grew older and more mature, he gradually taught her about firearms—including how to safely respond in that situation. “I told her, if you find a gun, don’t touch the action. You don’t know what condition it’s in. Just secure the area and notify an adult or the authorities.”

The Right Gear

Wahler stresses the importance of wearing proper safety gear—especially shooting glasses and hearing protection. “A lot of hunters back in my youth didn’t wear ear or eye protection,” he says. “But you can always have something come back from the firearm and impact your eyes.” He recommends safety glasses as protection and either in-ear plugs or over-ear muffs.

According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), “Firearms can produce dangerously high sound levels.” Small-caliber rifles and pistols can reach sound levels up to 140 decibels, and higher-caliber rifles can exceed 175. Hearing damage is cumulative; youthful decisions to forgo hearing protection exact a price as one ages. ASHA issues the stern reminder that “Exposure to anything over 140 dB can cause permanent hearing damage.”

Avoiding Firearm Theft

Wahler emphasized the importance of not advertising firearm ownership or you may become a target for theft. He avoids displaying National Rifle Association stickers or gun-related decals on his home or vehicle, explaining that criminals often look for those signs to identify potential places to steal firearms. As he put it, “I don’t advertise that I am a firearm aficionado—my truck looks like anybody else’s truck.”

Wahler, like many gun owners, enjoys the precision of shooting, the feel of a well-made firearm, and the protection it can provide. But none of that matters if the weapon is handled carelessly. Thankfully, by following the basic safety rules—treating every gun as loaded, keeping the muzzle pointed in a safe direction, and always knowing your target and what lies beyond it—you can keep yourself out of trouble and everyone safe, he says. “Gun safety isn’t just about the person holding the firearm—it’s about protecting everyone around them.”

Wahler makes it clear: The real safety is not the switch on the gun—it is the person holding it.

Know Your Weapon

Although the fundamentals form the foundation, Wahler shared a few additional safety habits that are easy to overlook—but also important.

• Read the manual. Every firearm is different. Take the time to understand the specific model you are handling.
• Watch instructional videos. Online resources can help you get familiar with your firearm before heading to the range.
• Familiarize yourself with the trigger pull and feel. Know how the firearm reacts in your hands before using it in a real scenario. Practice handling and trigger control safely before loading live rounds.
• Have a walkthrough before trying someone else’s gun. “If someone lets you try their gun at the range, have them walk you through how it works before pulling the trigger.”
• Use the correct ammunition—always. Double-check that the markings on each round match your firearm, not just the box label.
• Never modify your firearm unless you have been trained. “Outside of normal cleaning and maintenance, take it to a professional gunsmith—or get trained as one.”