Firearms Safety

Jason Bennett Oct 28, 2025

Firearm Safety: A Foundation for Responsible Ownership

By Jason Bennett, CEO and Lead Instructor – Applied Training Solutions LLC

At Applied Training Solutions LLC, we believe responsible gun ownership is not a one-time decision — it’s a continuing commitment. Whether you’re brand new to shooting or someone with years of range time, reviewing safety fundamentals keeps skills sharp and families safe.

The Four Universal Firearm Safety Rules

These aren’t suggestions — these are the standard for every responsible gun owner:

Treat every firearm as if it is loaded.
The moment you treat a gun as “safe” is the moment complacency creeps in.
Never point the muzzle at anything you are not willing to destroy.
If it shouldn’t get a hole in it, the muzzle doesn’t cover it — period.
Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on target and you’re ready to fire.
Trigger discipline is life-saving discipline.
Be sure of your target and what is beyond it.
Bullets travel — accountability doesn’t end at your front sight.

Michigan’s Safe Storage Law and Children

Michigan now requires firearms in a home or vehicle to be secured if a minor is, or is likely to be, present. As of Feb. 13, 2024 (Public Act 17 of 2023 / MCL 28.429):

Firearms must be locked in a container or secured with a locking device
The firearm must be unloaded when unattended around minors
“I hid it” is not considered secure storage
Penalties increase if a minor accesses and displays or discharges the firearm

This is both a legal obligation and a moral responsibility — safe storage protects children and protects you from criminal and civil liability.

Exposing Children Safely to Firearms

Gun safety for children starts in the home — not on the news after a tragedy. Safe exposure, at the right age and with maturity, removes mystery and builds respect.

For younger children:

Teach: Stop – Don’t Touch – Run Away – Tell an Adult
Reinforce consistently, just like other household safety rules
Normalize boundaries the same way you would with tools, vehicles, or sharp objects

For older/more mature children:

Introduce the four universal rules
Teach them why the rules exist — not just “because I said so”
Supervised handling builds competence and reduces curiosity

Hands-on exposure (when age-appropriate) turns firearms from “forbidden objects” into understood tools — and understood tools get handled responsibly, not secretly.

How to Build a Culture of Safe Handling at Home

Lock firearms when not in immediate use
Model the behavior you expect them to learn
Educate before they discover a firearm unsupervised
Make safety a normal part of the conversation — not a taboo topic

Children who grow up correctly exposed to firearms are less likely to mishandle them later in life — because education beats curiosity.

Want Hands-On, Realistic Safety Coaching for the Whole Family?

Learning in a classroom is good — learning in a controlled, realistic environment is better.

We offer Laser Ammo Smokeless Range Simulator time:

✅ $50.00 per hour
✅ Up to 4 people
✅ Perfect for families, youth introduction sessions, and new shooters
✅ Zero live ammunition = zero risk
✅ Build safety habits before touching a live firearm
✅ Train judgment and safe handling skills together

This is a phenomenal way to:

Introduce children or spouses safely
Refresh fundamentals
Practice safe handling stress-free
Reinforce the Four Rules in real time

To reserve simulator time, contact Applied Training Solutions LLC today and book your $50/hr family or group session.

Final Thoughts

Firearm ownership is more than a right — it’s a responsibility that lives in your home, your habits, and your example. The Four Universal Rules protect lives. Michigan’s safe storage law protects children. And safe exposure builds a generation who respects firearms instead of misusing them.

At ATS, we’re here to help you build that confidence and skill — responsibly, realistically, and with purpose.

Train like you mean it. Store like it matters. Teach so the next generation respects the responsibility.