The blog world challenges Colonel Cooper

Specifically, his 4 safety rules.
Link to one.
Link to another.
And a link to yet another.

Col. Cooper's 4 rules:
1. All guns are always loaded.
2. Never let the muzzle cover anything you are not willing to destroy.
3. Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on the target.
4. Identify your target, and what is behind it.

Conversely, the NRA has a simpler set:

1. ALWAYS keep the gun pointed in a safe direction.
2. ALWAYS keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot.
3. ALWAYS keep the gun unloaded until ready to use.

So, let's analyze:
If one performs Cooper 1, then they would do NRA 1, NRA2, Cooper 2, and Cooper 3.
Cooper 1 is, therefore, redundant. In fact, to a newer shooter, it is irrelevant, as it does not explain what to do... certainly not like Cooper 2 & 3 and NRA 1 & 2.

One of the links talks about how rules are better if they tell you what to do as opposed to what not to do. I agree with this, so The NRA rules have an advantage here, too.

However, the NRA rules do not address being aware of one's target, and what is behind / beyond it.