When we say that someone jumped the gun it means that they responded to something too quickly or did not think before they responded. The term Jumped the Gun can be traced back to the sport of horse racing in the old west where a pistol or gun was fired to signal the start of the race. If the horse and rider crossed the staring line before the gun was fired they were said to have jumped the gun or stared before the gun was started or fired.
Today in track and field events such as foot races at schools starter or blank round firing pistols are used and if the runner crosses over the staring line before the gun is fired they too are said to have jumped the gun.
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