Safety and Education

Safety is not only critical in handling firearms but in everyday life. The NRA offers resources and training to ensure the safe and effective use of firearms as well as personal safety. Training courses are available that teach proactive strategies to avoid dangerous situations, self-defense using a firearm, as well as protection inside and outside the home. Don't forget the NRA Gun Safety Rules below:

Blue Icon of a Figure Holding a Sporting Rifle

ALWAYS Keep the gun pointed in a safe direction

A safe direction means that the gun is pointed so that even if it were to go off it would not cause injury or damage

ALWAYS Keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot

Rest your finger on the trigger guard or along the side of the gun until you are actually ready to fire

ALWAYS Keep the gun unloaded until ready to use

Immediately engage the safety device when picking up a gun and remove the magazine before opening the action and checking that the chamber is clear of ammunition

NRA Gun Safety Rules

Whether you’re a parent in search of information about firearm safety in the home, a first-time gun owner, or an old pro looking to brush up on your firearm handling skills, the NRA is here to keep you and your family safe. Explore NRA’s fundamental rules of gun safety, as well as information how to safely store a gun and good cleaning practices.

Three youths running down an outdoor path

Eddie Eagle GunSafe® Program

The Eddie Eagle GunSafe® program teaches children in pre-K through fourth grade four important steps to take if they find a gun. These steps are presented by the program's mascot, Eddie Eagle, in an easy-to-remember format consisting of the following simple rules: STOP! Don’t touch. Leave the Area. Tell an Adult.

Eddie Eagle and the Wing Team sitting in a tree

Eddie Eagle Treehouse

The Eddie Eagle GunSafe® program teaches children in pre-K through third grade four important steps to take if they find a gun. These steps are presented by the program's mascot, Eddie Eagle, in an easy-to-remember format consisting of the following simple rules: STOP! Don’t touch. Run Away. Tell a Grown-up. At this kid-friendly website, children can watch the Eddie Eagle video, read through storybooks, join in sing-alongs, download coloring sheets and enjoy plenty of other fun activities reinforcing the gun safety message.

NRA School Shield

The NRA School Shield program is committed to addressing the many facets of school security, including best practices in security infrastructure, technology, personnel, training, and policy.

Whittington University

Whittington U is the firearms training division of the NRA Whittington Center. Here you will receive hands-on training from experts in the fields of defensive firearm instruction and precision long-range shooting. Courses range from beginner to advanced. Each course features live fire exercises that simulate real world conditions!

NRA Instructor Working with People in a Firing Line at an Outdoor Gun Range in the Desert

Firearm Training

From beginner to developing competitor, the NRA Training Department develops safe, ethical, responsible shooters through a network of more than 125,000 instructors and range safety officers and coaches. NRA Training Counselors recruit and train instructors to teach NRA's basic firearm courses. NRA Coaches, in turn, develop competitors at the club, high school, collegiate and national levels.

NRA Online Training

Our web-based courses are the best and most convenient way for you to learn basic firearms safety, shooting techniques, personal defense strategies, or fulfill the requirements for obtaining a concealed carry permit in your state. Get started today!

Become An NRA Instructor

NRA Certified Instructors provide an invaluable service in their communities by training hundreds of thousands of individuals annually. As more Americans choose to exercise their right to own a firearm, so too grows the need for these courses.

Hunter Education

NRA Hunter Education’s award-winning and 100% free online course is designed to help new hunters of all ages learn how to be safe and responsible members of the hunting community. From the organization that built the first-ever hunter education program in 1949, this state-of-the-art course is the most comprehensive online hunter education instruction in the United States. The 15-chapter, online sequence featuring attention-grabbing videos, eye-catching graphics, interactive modules, audio recordings and dozens of action photos is available at students’ fingertips, whenever and wherever they are able to complete it.

NRA Gunsmithing Schools

Gunsmithing is a craft that has long been a part of American history and culture. Gunsmiths have been responsible for some of the most historic technological advancements in firearm history, their raw skills and artistry making them unique to the trade.

Find A Basic Firearms Training Course Near You

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