[kevkrom]

Based on some conversations with firearm newbies, the first rule (1. All guns are always loaded) is the only one that seems to require a bit more thought than the rest. If taken literally, things like cleaning and dry-fire practice would be off limits. And who wants to assume that all your guns are loaded when you need one to deal with a threat? The idea behind this rule is that one should use the same safe handling practices whether the gun is known to be loaded or not.

I've actually always heard this rule presented as "all guns are always loaded, unless proven otherwise". That gets over the ambiguity regarding cleaning, et. al.

[Apogee]

I was told the gun is always loaded, the dog always bites, and the mule always kicks.
Even as a young child I do not recall taking this to be literal, but to be a cautionary statement to be acted upon until proven other wise.
Unloaded and verified firearms have never loaded themselves in my presence. Nice doggies have quit being nice - but then they are not inanimate objects. No experience with kicking mules.
Where’s that gun cam?
http://montego.roughwheelers.com/Images/s&w.gif