Owning a firearm comes with enormous responsibility. It’s not just about buying a gun and heading to the range – being a gun owner means understanding the law, maintaining your equipment, and keeping your skills sharp. But even experienced gun owners fall into bad habits. These aren’t just little slip-ups – they’re mistakes that can cost you your freedom, your rights, or even your life. Here are seven of the most common mistakes gun owners make – and how you can avoid them.
1. Not Knowing Your Gun Inside and Out
You’d be surprised how many people buy a gun for self-defense and never really learn how it works. They might understand the basics – how to load it, how to pull the trigger – but that’s not enough. Every firearm handles a little differently. Some print lower, some have feeding issues with certain ammunition, and some just don’t fit well in your hand.
Before relying on a gun for personal protection, take it to the range and run at least 100–200 rounds through it. Learn how it behaves when drawing from your holster. Does your sight picture line up quickly? Can you manipulate the controls efficiently under stress? Know where your gun prints, how it cycles, and how to fix any malfunctions. Otherwise, when the pressure’s on, your gun may fail you – or worse, you may fail yourself.
2. Ignoring Muscle Memory and Real-World Practice
Too many gun owners get comfortable just owning a firearm without ever training for real-world conditions. Drawing from concealment, managing clothing layers, sweeping a manual safety – these are skills that need to be hardwired into your reflexes. Your body should already “know” how to react when the moment comes. That means practicing magazine changes, malfunction drills, and dry fire routines that mimic real-life carry conditions.
Don’t rely on a weekend at the range once a month. You should practice holster draws in your normal clothing, rehearse your reloads, and run dry fire exercises at home using snap caps. Repetition builds muscle memory, and when things go south, your body won’t wait for your brain – it’ll do what it’s trained to do.
3. Traveling with a Gun Without Knowing the Law
One of the easiest ways for a law-abiding gun owner to end up in jail is to cross state lines without understanding the laws of the state they’re entering. Gun laws vary wildly across the U.S. – what’s totally legal in Texas might get you arrested in New Jersey. That loaded handgun under your seat? Perfectly fine at home. But in another state, it could be a felony.
This doesn’t just apply to personal travel. It includes moving, inheriting firearms from relatives, or even driving through a restricted state on your way to somewhere else. Always double-check the laws of any state you enter, and remember: ignorance of the law won’t save you in court.
4. Letting Pride Get in the Way of Proper Gun Selection
A common mistake, especially for men buying a gun for their spouse or partner, is picking the wrong firearm based on looks, size, or assumptions. A tiny gun might seem ideal for someone with small hands, but in reality, small guns tend to have more recoil and are harder to control. And while colored finishes or sleek designs might be appealing, functionality should always come first.
Choosing a firearm should be based on experience, training goals, and intended use. Is it for concealed carry? Home defense? Training at the range? Let the person who’s going to shoot it try different options and decide for themselves. Pride has no place in gun buying – and getting it wrong could scare a new shooter away from firearms entirely.
5. Refusing to Join a Gun Rights Organization
Many gun owners stay on the sidelines when it comes to politics, but that’s a dangerous gamble. There are people actively working every day to limit or eliminate your gun rights. If you’re not staying informed or lending your support to those fighting back, you’re relying on others to do the heavy lifting – and that’s not sustainable.
Supporting a solid Second Amendment organization – especially one that’s active in your state – is one of the best ways to protect your rights. These groups monitor legislation, mobilize opposition to bad bills, and help gun owners stay informed. Some even make it easy by providing pre-written emails you can send to your representatives. It’s a small commitment with a huge impact.
6. Thinking You Know Everything and Refusing to Learn
One of the most dangerous mindsets in the firearms community is arrogance. Some gun owners think they’ve got nothing left to learn – they shoot the way they always have, carry the same gun they did 30 years ago, and brush off new techniques or training. This attitude shuts down progress and often alienates new shooters looking for guidance.
Firearms ownership is a journey. There’s always something new to learn – whether it’s a better holster setup, a smoother reload technique, or a change in state law. The best gun owners stay humble, keep training, and pass on what they know to others. That’s how we build a stronger, safer, and more welcoming gun community.
7. Answering the Marijuana Question Wrong on a 4473
This one trips up more people than you’d think. When buying a gun and filling out the ATF Form 4473, there’s a question about marijuana use. Many people wrongly assume that if it’s legal in their state, it’s not an issue. But federally, marijuana is still illegal – and that means answering “no” when you are, in fact, a user is technically perjury.
Even medical users are affected. Until federal law changes, being honest about marijuana use disqualifies you from firearm ownership. Being dishonest can land you in serious legal trouble. It’s a lose-lose scenario for many, and it forces gun owners to make hard choices between their health and their rights. It’s unfair – but it’s also reality.
The Responsibility of Knowing the Law
Every gun owner should treat knowledge of the law as essential gear. Just as you wouldn’t leave home without your holster or spare mag, you shouldn’t carry without knowing the legal rules that apply to you. That includes use-of-force laws, transportation rules, and what to do after a defensive shooting.
This isn’t just about staying out of jail – it’s about knowing how to react in high-stress situations. If you’re unsure whether you can legally draw your weapon, hesitate in the moment, or freeze because you don’t understand what comes next, you’re not doing yourself or your family any favors.
Training Is More Than Just Target Practice
Shooting tight groups at the range is fun, but defensive shooting is about much more than accuracy. You need to be able to draw your weapon under pressure, clear malfunctions, and make split-second decisions. That means practicing from concealment, running your carry setup regularly, and testing your gear in realistic scenarios.
A good training session should leave you more confident with your firearm – not just in how it shoots, but in how you carry, reload, and respond. Build that muscle memory now – because you won’t have time to think when the moment comes.
Don’t Let Ego Sabotage Your Safety
We’ve all seen it – the guy at the gun shop or range who knows everything, refuses advice, and treats new shooters like idiots. Don’t be that guy. Whether you’re buying your first pistol or your fiftieth, stay open to learning. Share what you know, ask questions when you don’t, and never let your pride get in the way of good information.
Guns are tools, and like any tool, mastery comes from education and experience. No one knows it all – and those who think they do are usually the ones who make dangerous mistakes.
The Gun Community Is Better When We Help Each Other
Owning a firearm is about more than just personal protection – it’s also about responsibility. The mistakes on this list aren’t small. They’re the kind of errors that can ruin your life, take away your rights, or put others at risk. Avoiding them means staying humble, staying informed, and staying connected to a community that values safety and freedom.
When we help each other learn, improve, and stay legal, we all benefit. Whether it’s a quick tip about carry positions or advice about traveling across state lines, passing on your knowledge keeps the community strong. If you’ve made mistakes in the past, that’s okay – what matters is learning from them and helping others avoid the same pitfalls.
Stay sharp, stay safe, and always respect the power and responsibility that comes with being a gun owner.
Ed spent his childhood in the backwoods of Maine, where harsh winters taught him the value of survival skills. With a background in bushcraft and off-grid living, Ed has honed his expertise in fire-making, hunting, and wild foraging. He writes from personal experience, sharing practical tips and hands-on techniques to thrive in any outdoor environment. Whether it’s primitive camping or full-scale survival, Ed’s advice is grounded in real-life challenges.