FUNDAMENTALS
of Firearms Safety
Firearms and Ammunition
All Metro Rifle & Pistol Club members or competitors in at Metro Rifle & Pistol Club shooting sanctioned events must ensure that their firearm and ammunition are safe for use. The Metro Rifle & Pistol Club assumes no responsibility for any accident arising from defective or unsuitable firearms or ammunition.
Please note:
If your gun feels or sounds different while shooting it: STOP IMMEDIATELY; then follow the guidelines in the CFSC/CRFSC summarized below:
- Point the firearm down range (60 seconds- finger outside trigger guard)
- ACT/PROVE the gun; get the cartridges out and rod the barrel to ensure there is no obstruction
The Fundamentals of Firearm Safety
The vital 4 ACTS
• Assume every firearm is loaded
• Control the muzzle direction at all times
• Trigger finger must be kept off the trigger and out of the trigger guard
• See that the firearm is unloaded – PROVE it safe
Point the firearm in the safest available direction
Remove all cartridges
Observe the chamber
Verify the feeding path
Examine the bore for obstructions
Addition: The Gun Commandments
These are not rules. Rules can be broken. These commandments are carved in stone!
- Treat every gun as though it is loaded – Not too hard. If you’ve walked away from the gun, do a quick check. Before you do anything drop the magazine, check the action and visually inspect the chamber
- Never ever point a gun at anything you don’t want to kill or destroy – It’s just a good habit: mainly because if you forget to do commandment #1, you at least reduce the risk of someone/something getting hurt
- Be sure of your target AND what’s behind it as well – Aside from what you’ve seen on TV, bullets do not always stop once they hit their target. In reality they can continue on for kilometers after passing through something. Think of what happens if you miss your target!
- Keep your finger off the trigger until you’re ready to fire – easy enough to do. Almost completely removes the risk of accidentally firing
- Alcohol and drugs do not mix with guns – never handle a firearm while under the influence of alcohol and most drugs. Be watchful of cold and cough medicines. Many drugs can impair your sense of judgement
- DO NOT trust your gun safety. Safeties fail. Of course, use them but don’t use them as a substitute for good safety practices
Detailed Information and other sources about firearm safety can be found i.e. at Wikipedia