Last time I discussed a common gunhandling mistake among more experienced shooters. Today, I’m going to explain one that more often catches beginners and is exactly like its name—malfunction.

A “safety malfunction” sometimes happens when a shooter on the line has his/her gun malfunction. This usually happens to shooters who are unfamiliar with their guns, but I have seen long-time shooters make this same mistake. There are two main types of safety malfunctions, one more glaring than the other, both equally disconcerting.

The first happens when a gun has a misfire or other stoppage such as a stove pipe or double feed. At the same time, the shooter’s brain has a stoppage (at least that’s what I call it), which causes him/her to turn toward the instructor in confusion and “sweep” fellow shooters. This is a problem that must be stopped immediately. The best way of handling this problem is proactively by driving home the Fundamental Rules for Safe Gun Handling, and by emphasizing that if there is a problem with a gun—whatever the problem—stop, keep the gun pointed in a safe direction and raise a hand to obtain the instructor’s help.

The other most common safety malfunction happens to experienced shooters when a handgun obtains a major malfunction that isn’t easily rectified. More experienced shooters know not to turn around sweeping fellow shooters, but sometimes they will fail to properly monitor the muzzle as they try to clear the gun, become frustrated and end up point it down the line. While malfunction drills are an important part of self-defense, when lined up with other shooters on a line is not the proper time or place to learn how to conduct one.