Managing Risk in Your Life

Every action we take in our lives includes an element of risk. Both consciously and subconsciously, we constantly evaluate those risks and then modify our behavior. The result is a risk level that we as individuals are comfortable with.

Daily activities as simple as crossing a street are relatively low risk if, and only if, we apply the commonsense criteria of looking both ways beforehand. Too frequently, we see folks so absorbed in their electronic devices that they are completely unaware of any risk around them. They are apparently OK with the increased risk that most of us would want to avoid.

Being deliberately conscious of the risks we’re exposed to is the way to best manage and prevent unacceptable consequences. We each have different levels of acceptable risk and make our own decisions accordingly. Those decisions cover the spectrum, from crossing a street to handling firearms.

In the firearms world, we follow The Four Fundamental Firearms Safety Rules, which practically eliminate the risk of adverse consequences. The recent event on a movie set in New Mexico clearly disregarded both common sense and two of these rules. Had these rules been followed, one less life would have been lost and the tragic impact on all involved would not have occurred.

The rules are:

• Treat every firearm as if it is loaded.
• Keep your finger off the trigger until you’re ready to fire.
• Never point the muzzle at anything you’re not willing to destroy.
• Know your target and what is beyond it.

EVERY person handling a firearm must know and follow these rules. Sadly, they are written in blood.

As firearms instructors, we frequently hear students say, “I’m afraid of guns.” That fear can be redirected into a reasonable risk management strategy for someone who is not familiar with firearms.  Once these same people understand the safety rules and the specifics of how a firearm functions, the fear is replaced with respect.

As with any potentially high-risk activity, proper training and adherence to the safety rules mitigates the risk. Knowing, understanding, and practicing The Four Fundamental Firearms Safety Rules is critical to that process and will prevent future tragedies. FBN

By Rob Wilson

Rob Wilson is the owner (with his wife, Elise) of Timberline Firearms & Training in Flagstaff. They offer a full line of firearms, accessories, safes and ammunition along with Liberty Safes. For more information, visit timberlinefirearms.us.