English: Rule #1: Every Gun is Loaded.

Well, not really. Years ago I recall a huge argument in rec.guns over what Col Cooper meant by Rule #1. Most folks of reasonable intelligence suggested he meant guns should be regarded as loaded until otherwise verified. But a pedantic minority, led by a veteran gun writer, insisted forcefully that Cooper really meant all guns are loaded all the time. Nothing anyone could say could shake these folks from their bizarre dogma.

Because of course there are many occasions when firearms are known to be unloaded, especially at a shooting range. For example, as illustrated here, only unloaded guns can be brought back to the rack from the firing line. There is an important difference between the guns in the rack and the ones on the line: the latter may or may not be loaded (Rule #1 Every Gun is Loaded); while the former are always unloaded. Guns also have to be unloaded before you can clean them.

Pedants who are terrified there are people running around who do not believe all guns are always loaded can relax, since Rules #2 through #4 cover all exigencies.