Page 9 - FAT 105 4.17 MOODLE

2. Never point a firearm at anything you do
Safety not intend to destroy.

This point cannot be stressed enough: DO
NOT under any circumstance point a firearm
GUN SAFETY at another person, living thing, or property. The

only exceptions are legal hunting and when you
Firearms and shooting can be inherently dan-
are in absolute fear that your life or the life of an-
gerous by nature, but strictly adhering to a set of
other is going to be taken. Even if you know the
rules will ensure that you and everyone around
firearm is safe and empty, it is still offensive and
you are safe. Firearms should not be feared, but
punishable by law to point a firearm at another
they should definitely be respected. Just like
person. Safeties fail and accidents happen, so you
with other dangerous things in our lives, we
do not want to be pointing a gun at something
learn how to safely handle and manipulate them.
or someone you do not wish to destroy.
Firearms are no different — you must learn and
strictly follow each and every safety rule at all 3. Keep your finger off the trigger until you
times. Becoming lax with safety is a sure way for are ready to shoot.
someone to get hurt or worse. Following these
simple rules will ensure that even if an accident There are situations where you will move around
were to occur, everyone will be safe. while carrying your firearm, such as walking
through the woods while you stalk your game,
1. Treat every firearm as if it were loaded. running around a course during some type of
competition, or even clearing rooms in your
There is an average of over 600 unintentional
house in the dark when you hear a window break
firearm deaths per year, with about 15% of those
or a door bust open. No matter what you are
being children between the ages of 3 and 16.
doing, you must remember to ALWAYS keep
This is all because someone assumed a firearm
your finger off the trigger. People trip and fall,
was empty or safe or was not taught otherwise.
bump into things, get scared and also excited.
There is seldom a way of just seeing that a fire-
These are all situations that can result in an un-
arm is safe — you must physically and visually
intentional discharge. In fact, your finger should
make sure that it is. If you are unfamiliar with
be OUTSIDE the trigger guard planted on the
the way a certain firearm functions, ask someone
side of the receiver or against the cylinder.
who is, find a factory manual, or use the inter-
net, but make sure you understand how to safely 4. Always be sure of your target and what is
use it. Teach children never to touch a gun un- behind it.
less there is adult supervision, or to leave it alone
and find an adult if one is not already present. This rule can be broken down into two different
The same rules apply when you are training or parts: the actual target and the surrounding area.
teaching safety with “Blue” or training guns. Targets can be made of many different materials
Teaching children and beginners to treat toys and configurations, all of which can react differ-
(BB, Nerf, or Airsoft) like real loaded firearms ently from a bullet impact. While hunting, it is
will cement this rule into them so when they important to be sure you are shooting the right
are handling real firearms, they will do so in a animal; you don’t want to shoot a doe when your
safe manner. tag is for a buck. Or, in a worst case scenario, you
don’t want to panic during a dark home invasion

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