MCRD/ERR PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. -- It's no secret that Marines are fond of weapons. Marines and their weapons are never separate in their function. They are trained in the same rules across the board when it comes to handling weapons, the same rules that are instilled in them from recruit training.
Some basic regulations have been put into place by the Provost Marshals Office to ensure safe handling of weapons aboard the Depot.
Those regulations are built upon the ones taught from the very first day a recruit touches a weapon.
Treat every weapon as if it were loaded. Never point a weapon at anything you do not intend to shoot. Keep your finger straight and off the trigger until you are ready to fire. Keep your weapon on safe until you intend to fire.
Forgetting those rules can cost lives.
In a Marine's line of work, there is no greater fear than costing fellow Marines their lives because of carelessness. That same attention to safety must be applied to home life as well.
John Howard, age 46, is a national instructor trainer for the National Rifle Association. Though he lives in Manassas, Va., he trains instructors who teach people nationwide about gun safety.
Howard said in a phone interview the best step to remain safe at home is a simple one.
"No matter what, the first thing is to keep your weapons secure from unauthorized personnel," he said. "That can mean children, other relatives and even people who may have weapon handling experience. It's your responsibility to keep them secure in your home."
There are numerous ways to keep a weapon secure, from gun safes to trigger locks and even removing the firing pin from show pieces. Teaching all members of the household the basics of weapon safety should be part of any weapon owner's home.
According to Cpl. Ehricka L. Maness, a military police officer on the Depot, Marines who wish to have a gun on the Depot must follow a set of regulations.
Owners must register their weapons within three days of introducing them to the Depot. They also need to provide vehicle registration with the weapon's serial number, make, model and caliber.
However, weapon owners should not physically bring the gun to PMO. Registration must be kept with the weapon at all times. Weapons can be stored in base housing, but not the barracks and can only be transported on the Depot when going to or from recreational firing. All weapons being transported must be in condition four (weapon on safe, bolt home on an empty chamber, no magazine inserted, ejection port cover closed).
When transporting a handgun, it must be locked in the glove box or secured with a trigger guard. Rifles must be secured with a trigger guard, and all ammunition must be stored separately from the weapon. If the weapon is in the car, the ammunition must be in the trunk and vice versa.
All these rules have been enacted to keep Marines, their family members, recruits and visitors safe while aboard the Depot.
DeWayne Saunders is the senior training counselor with the NRA, from Charlotte, N.C. He recommended that all family members who may be in contact with any weapon become familiar with basic weapon handling.
"There are four different levels of training, which range from the basic to the advanced," Saunders said in a phone interview. "Even children have to go through some training, formal or not, to prevent incidents."
The NRA runs a basic course that instructs children to never touch any weapon they find and to tell an adult immediately if they find one.
Keeping current with training is just one part of proper safety in the home, according to Saunders. Securing the weapons correctly is also necessary.
Howard recommends using a gun safe in conjunction with familiarization of all weapons kept in the house.
"Know how to handle your weapon and how to use it properly, and there shouldn't be any issues," Howard said.
Both Howard and the NRA Web site,www.nra.com, point out the four weapon safety rules are still the best protection against incidents.