page_title: Gun safety
section_title: Keep fingers off the trigger
hierarchical_section_title: Gun safety / Rules and mindset / Keep fingers off the trigger
caption_attribution_description: English: KABUL, AFGHANISTAN (February 2003) - Lance corporal Jeremy R. Riddle, designated marksman for Task Force Kabul, looks through his scope of his designated marksman rifle (modified M-14) at any threats on and outside the U.S. Embassy compound here in Kabul, Afghanistan. He is here to assist the task force in gathering information and precision marksmanship. The task force is part of the 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade (Anti-Terrorism), and have been here since December.
context_page_description: Gun safety rules and practice recommendations are intended to avoid accidental discharge or negligent discharge, or the consequences of firearm malfunctions. Their purpose is to eliminate or minimize the risks of unintentional death, injury or property damage caused by improper possession, storage or handling of firearms. There were 47,000 unintentional firearm deaths worldwide in 2013.
context_section_description: Also known as trigger discipline, this rule is intended to prevent an undesired discharge. Normally a firearm is discharged by depressing its trigger. A handler's finger may involuntarily move for any of several reasons: the handler is startled, a lack of full attention on body movements, physiological reasons beyond conscious control such as a spasm, stumbling or falling, or the finger being pushed by something (as when trying to holster a handgun with one's finger on the trigger). Handlers are therefore taught to minimize the harmful effects of such a motion by keeping their finger off and far away from the trigger until the muzzle is pointing at the target and the handler wishes to discharge the firearm.
  The trigger guard and the receiver area above the trigger of a firearm presents a natural point for a handler to keep their finger out straight alongside the weapon, so as not to violate this rule. Another recommendation is to keep the trigger finger above the trigger guard, so that there is less chance of the finger involuntarily slipping into the guard when startled. A properly indexed trigger finger also helps remind the person holding the firearm of the direction of the muzzle.
  In popular culture, such as movies and TV shows, this rule is often violated, even by characters such as military personnel or law enforcement officers who should be trained in gun safety and thus would logically know better.
caption: Finger off the trigger and outside the trigger guard
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