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I would just say, "every gun is always loaded, unless you yourself have checked the chamber". That's what it really means. In other words don't assume anything, don't take anyone's word for it, etc. you have to verify it yourself.I agree. I live it, and teach it to my kids. Safety is everything when handling guns.
I do have one minor issue with the basic safety rules as they are preached, but it's strictly semantics. Does the term "Every gun is always loaded" bother anyone but me?
In the above video, Cooper takes issue with those who say "Treat every gun as if it were loaded".
I tell my kids "Assume every gun is loaded", but my overly logical brain rejects the "Every gun is always loaded" statement, because it is technically not true. Yes, I understand the purpose of the statement, and have no problem with it being taught as a safety rule because it is effective at getting the extremely important concept across, but for me personally it just doesn't work.
For example, my 11yo son is very literal minded, probably more than me. We were handling and talking about guns one day, and having the requisite safety talk. I read the safety rules to him, and the wording as it was written was "every gun is always loaded". He looked at me with a very confused look of his face. "But Dad, this one here isn't loaded. We just checked it twice; how can it still be loaded??"
Furthermore it reinforces the mindset. Fe as Clint Smith says with the plastic gun, if you treat it with respect (ie "it's loaded") you will carry that practice in every situation dealing with any gun (ie you never make exceptions, ever).