Gun Safety issues are a primary concern to me. I've been an avid shooter and hunter for more than 30 years. As a crime laboratory employee with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, I routinely qualified every 6 months on the firing range to carry firearms on crime scene investigations. Later in my career, as a citizen of Texas, I've qualified to carry with a concealed handgun license for the past several years. I believe that every individual who carries a firearm should have a thorough knowledge & regard for the laws of safe gun handling.

          Certain firearms are inherently more unsafe than others, and have a history of gun "accidents" related to that firearm design. Other guns may be safe by themselves but are improperly handled leading to firearms accidents. I've studied firearms designs internally and externally for more than 25 years, and am intimately familiar with most current & older firearms designs. I've completed numerous armorer's courses (see Curriculum Vitae), and toured numerous firearms & ammunition manufacturing plants. In the laboratory, I've examined more than 20,000 firearms during my career. Every firearm I've examined has been thoroughly tested to determine if it will fire "accidentally" as a mechanical malfunction of the condition of the firearm. This experience has given me the basis to have a practical first hand knowledge of what constitutes good firearms design practices.

          The following is a list of gun safety rules. Practice these rules and your chances of having a firearms related accident will be greatly reduced.

	Handle all firearms as if they were loaded.
	Always keep the firearm pointed in a safe direction.
	Keep your finger out of the gun's trigger guard and off the trigger until you have aligned the gun's sights on a safe target and you have made the decision to fire.
	Always be certain that your target and the surrounding area are safe before firing.
	Whenever you handle a firearm, the first thing you should do (while keeping it pointed in a safe direction with your finger outside the trigger guard) is to open the action to determine whether or not the firearm is loaded.
	Thoroughly read the instruction manual supplied with your firearm.
	Before firing your weapon, you should routinely make sure that your firearm is in good working order and that the barrel is clear of dirt and obstructions.
	Only use ammunition recommended by the firearm manufacturer, and always be certain that the ammunition matches the caliber of your gun.
	Quality ear and eye protection should always be worn when shooting or observing.
	Never use firearms while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
	All firearms should be stored unloaded and secured in a safe storage case, inaccessible to children and untrained adults.
	The transportation of firearms is regulated by Federal, State and local laws. Always transport your firearm in a safe, unloaded condition and in accordance with applicable laws.