In addition to the usual gun handling safety rules, such as always treating all guns as if they are loaded, here are my additional best practices rules for gunfighting:
a - before you put your finger on the trigger to take the shot, observe everything around your target, between you and your target, and beyond your target, to determine if you can safely take the shot without causing collateral injury to bystanders;
b - if you cannot safely take the shot due to bystanders, then you need to get away quickly and take cover and wait for the shooter to come to you, before you start shooting;
c - if you are outgunned or outnumbered, then you need to get away quickly and take cover and wait for the shooter(s) to come to you, before you start shooting;
d - if you are caught in a robbery of a store or bank, then you need to take cover quickly and wait for the shooter(s) to come to you, before you start shooting;
e - never get into a gunfight in which you are outgunned or outnumbered; get away quickly instead and take cover;
f - always have lots of loaded ammo available on your person not just what is loaded into your gun;
g - always bring a cell phone with you so you can call-in the crime in progress after you take cover;
h - make sure you have a first aid kit in your car nearby with wound treatment items.
a - before you put your finger on the trigger to take the shot, observe everything around your target, between you and your target, and beyond your target, to determine if you can safely take the shot without causing collateral injury to bystanders;
b - if you cannot safely take the shot due to bystanders, then you need to get away quickly and take cover and wait for the shooter to come to you, before you start shooting;
c - if you are outgunned or outnumbered, then you need to get away quickly and take cover and wait for the shooter(s) to come to you, before you start shooting;
d - if you are caught in a robbery of a store or bank, then you need to take cover quickly and wait for the shooter(s) to come to you, before you start shooting;
e - never get into a gunfight in which you are outgunned or outnumbered; get away quickly instead and take cover;
f - always have lots of loaded ammo available on your person not just what is loaded into your gun;
g - always bring a cell phone with you so you can call-in the crime in progress after you take cover;
h - make sure you have a first aid kit in your car nearby with wound treatment items.