[PapaBear3625]

Because the cooper rules are UNSAFE.

I think you misunderstand Jeff Cooper's rules.

Rule #1 ("Guns are always loaded") generally gets tossed around without background explanation, and can be interpreted to mean "Always keep your gun loaded at all times".

This is not what Cooper meant. I've read his book. What he meant was that one should always assume that a particular gun is loaded until you have personally verified that the chamber is empty and there is no magazine inserted. Even then, if you put the gun down for any reason, when you pick it up again the first thing you do is re-verify its unloaded condition.

A major cause of firearms accidents is the gun-holder being sure that the gun is unloaded, and pointing it at a human (or at a wall which a human may be behind) and pulling the trigger. Then he gets to find out that his assumption was invalid.

Cooper is also talking to a different audience than the audience the NRA rules are primarily for. The NRA rules are great rules for pistol target shooters on the range, who arrive with an unloaded gun, shoot, and then unload the gun to go home. Coopers rules are for people who carry guns off the range (CCW) or who for defensive purposes may keep loaded guns in the home.

[fightinJAG]

Thanks for adding that discussion.

[Uri’el-2012]

Your points are well taken.

Cooper rules are unclear and thus UNSAFE.

The only organization that I am aware of which has firearms safety in their mission statement is the NRA.

Cooper Rules

RULE I: ALL GUNS ARE ALWAYS LOADED

RULE II: NEVER LET THE MUZZLE COVER ANYTHING YOU ARE NOT WILLING TO DESTROY

RULE III: KEEP YOUR FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER UNTIL YOUR SIGHTS ARE ON THE TARGET

RULE IV: BE SURE OF YOUR TARGET

Sorry but from a learning and retention point of view,
there are a great many differences between Cooper Rules and the NRA rules.

NRA rules are all positive and start with the same positive word.
which facilitates learning and retention.

Cooper rules are random and confusing,
thus difficult to learn and retain.

NRA rules use words that can be understand by all.

Cooper rules use words which are not easily understood by all.

Each NRA rule is one topic.

Cooper rules 2 & 3 each contain two topics.
Sometimes Cooper rule three has two topics

The NRA rules are in a sequence of safety
If rule one is observed rule two and three if violated will cause no harm.
If rule two is observed rule three if violated, will cause no harm

The most violated Cooper rule is rule number one.(I thought it was unloaded)

Some wag stated ""All guns are always loaded!" is a ridiculous thing to say.
What kind of safety rule is a declarative statement which is patently false?

That is why NRA Certified Instructors teaching NRA basic courses teach
"Always keep the gun pointed in a safe direction" as Rule One.
Many thinking shooters, who can move beyond fawning over Colonel Cooper,
understand that teaching a rule which is obviously false doubtless will result
in less than strict adherence to the rule.

I'm sure if you were to call the NRA Training Department, they would gladly assist you in your quest.

NRA Gun Safety Rules :

Always keep the gun pointed in a safe direction

Always keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot

Always keep the gun unloaded until ready to use