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Thread: Is it finally time for a 5th rule?

  1. #21
    No disrespect intended to Col. Jeff Cooper, but the four rules may very well be his largest mistake.

    The intent behind them is clear; creating a simple list of safety maxims to use with guns. Problem is that true safety with deadly devices isn’t based on rules but on mindset. Rules can and are often disregarded, and the Famous Four have the additional drawback of being fundamentally impossible. “Never put your finger on the trigger without intent to shoot”. Sounds reasonable, unless you plan to clean your pistol. A reasonable man would function check his weapon after reassembly , which means pulling the trigger...without intent to shoot. So much for that one.

    What we need is to impart a safety culture. Think about good pilots; they’re not safe because they follow rules to a T. They’re safe because they’re committed to prioritizing the safety of their flight above all other factors...including the rules. That’s the mindset which should be in place for every gun owner.
    Naturally we aren’t there, and I’ll admit right now I don’t have a prepackaged solution for this which is not contradictory to our nations laws. After all, even the terminally negligent have a right to defend themselves with a firearm. That said, the Four Rules are essentially a theatrical exercise. They are only enforced on a square range (and not all of them at that) , and are seen nowhere else in the world...especially at the local gun store counter.
    The Minority Marksman.
    "When you meet a swordsman, draw your sword: Do not recite poetry to one who is not a poet."
    -a Ch'an Buddhist axiom.

  2. #22
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    No, they were intended (without reading the man's mind) as a mnemonic device to point out risks to avoid. They were not to be taken as literal, unalterable commands with some kind of Boolean truth test.

    Yes, a reasonable and careful person can 'violate' them. The 'violation' doesn't imply that you are changing one of the physical constants of the universe and breaking the speed of light.

    They are memory guidelines that are quick to use.

    Why 4 - well, folks can only hold about four things in working memory. You can have giants lists of thinks in LTM. I can name almost every battleship used in WWII (a hobby) if I sit and access LTM deliberately. However, one can only hold about 4 processes to be used at a time. This has been demonstrated in many domains of human engineering.

    Not theatrics.

  3. #23
    Never let the muzzle cover anything you are not willing to destroy.

    That's the only rule we need. That would prevent all the negligent injuries.

    I remember when we had the 10 rules. Now we have 4 rules and I have to think to remember what they are. We need to simplify not make more rules.

  4. #24
    Quote Originally Posted by Glenn E. Meyer View Post
    No, they were intended (without reading the man's mind) as a mnemonic device to point out risks to avoid. They were not to be taken as literal, unalterable commands with some kind of Boolean truth test.

    Yes, a reasonable and careful person can 'violate' them. The 'violation' doesn't imply that you are changing one of the physical constants of the universe and breaking the speed of light.
    From the Oxford English Dictionary entry on the word “Rule” ;

    One of a set of explicit or understood regulations or principles governing conduct or procedure within a particular area of activity.”

    No mention of mnemonic devices. If we are to open the Four Rules to personal interpretation then we should call them something else. Perhaps the “four suggestions”, since frankly over 50% of the gun owning world disregards them anyways.
    The Minority Marksman.
    "When you meet a swordsman, draw your sword: Do not recite poetry to one who is not a poet."
    -a Ch'an Buddhist axiom.

  5. #25
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    Missed the point. Calling them rules, doesn't mean that was the purpose to see them as immutable, laws of physical reality.

    Mnemonics have to be short and pithy. They lead to a fuller understanding and expansion of more information from LTM.

    Please excuse my dear aunt Sally - ok, always excuse her. Or doing math?

    This point always comes up. Are Cooper's law absolutely to be followed. Oh, how about this situation? Blah, blah.

    Was the world created in 7 days - literally?

  6. #26
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    6 days. On the 7th day God rested.

  7. #27
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    Mitchell Indiana
    People can and should make all the rules they want.

    For their self.

    For their family, and for their own house.

    Out side of that there is already and over abundance of rules, good rules, bad rules, smart rules, stupid rules and every other kind of rule when all we really need is ONE rule. EVERYONE needs to be held responsible for their own actions. Period.

  8. #28
    Hoplophilic doc SAWBONES's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Glenn E. Meyer View Post
    No, they were intended...as a mnemonic device to point out risks to avoid. They were not to be taken as literal, unalterable commands with some kind of Boolean truth test.

    Yes, a reasonable and careful person can 'violate' them. The 'violation' doesn't imply that you are changing one of the physical constants of the universe and breaking the speed of light.

    They are memory guidelines that are quick to use.
    Very good explication.

    The "Four Rules" are a pithy, memorable distillation of safe ACTIVE gun-handling principles.

    They're not the Decalogue, nor are they applicable to all times, places and circumstances.
    "Therefore, since the world has still... Much good, but much less good than ill,
    And while the sun and moon endure, Luck's a chance, but trouble's sure,
    I'd face it as a wise man would, And train for ill and not for good." -- A.E. Housman

  9. #29
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    Santa Fe, NM
    0. Be safe.

  10. #30
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    Erie County, NY
    17. Don't trip over the fault line stick at an IDPA match and scare everyone.
    18. Make sure all your add on gadgets are secured on your gun, so they don't fall off on the draw or deployment.
    19. The toilet is not a place to leave your roscoe in a restaurant or school.
    20. 380s don't run in a Browning BDM
    21. The telescopic rifle sight should not make the target appear smaller
    22. Do not insult the masculinity of a respected match director in front of 65 people holding various EBRs
    23. Do not fall under your motorcycle on a sharp turn to the range, so I have to pick it up off you.
    24. Blanks can kill you (apply rules 1 to 4).
    25. Bring extra boots to class.

    Just killing time on Thanksgiving. Happy to all of you.

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