General (Why Firearms Safety Is Important)
Firearms safety depends on YOU.
Shooting is one of the safest sports available to participate in. But that is due in large part to the risk associated with the use of firearms and the constant vigilance along with supervision and education of new participants that accompany firearm usage.
According to the 2020 Industry Reference Guide published by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), hunting with a firearm is the second safest sport at .03% injuries per 100 participants. Only billiards/pool is safer at .01% injury rate.
You are …
- 24 times more likely to be injured when playing softball
- 44 times more likely when playing soccer
- 58 times more likely when playing basketball
- 130 times more likely to be injured playing football
... than participating in firearm hunting.
Firearms are involved in fewer than 1.6% of accidental fatalities among children and in less than one half of one percent of all accidental fatalities.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention WONDER database of public health data in 2018 (https://wonder.cdc.gov/WelcomeT.html)
The NSSF Industry Reference Guide also states that during the past 20 years, unintentional firearm fatalities have seen the highest rate of decline compared to other principle types of unintentional fatalities. Over the last 10 years these rates have decreased 20.7%, and a total of 50.5% over the past 20 years.
The number of unintentional firearm-related fatalities among youth, 14 years of age and under, has decreased 56.3%, down 84.8% from the high in 1930.
As an active participant in hunting and shooting sports you contribute to this by educating yourself, continually practicing and demonstrating safe practices to others.
Safety is an individual responsibility as well as a group responsibility. Not only do you need to be aware of yourself and your handling of firearms, but you should also be keeping an eye out for the other hunters. Everyone—whether they are an active participant or an observer—has the ability, right and duty to politely point out safety infractions and correct inappropriate behavior before it can escalate to a safety hazard.