It could never be a good plan to take matters of life and death lightly. A firearm is a LETHAL weapon. YOU can never bring that bullet back!
Always follow these simple rules.
- Always treat a gun like it is loaded
- Never point a gun at anything you do not intend to shoot
- Keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot
- Never store your gun loaded
- Be certain your gun is empty before you attempt to disassemble, or clean it (see rule 1)
- When shooting, observe the "firing line" - more below
It is totally unreasonable how many accidents occur for reason "I didn't know it was loaded."
IT is always loaded - there is no such thing as an empty gun!
- Make sure of the area you will be shooting into. Ask: Where will the bullet go? When will it stop? Could others be beyond our targets? MAKE SURE!
- Establish a "firing line" - one side is downrange, the other safe. This line should be lateral to your target area.
- See to it that each person in your party is aware that shooting will go on.
- See to it no one goes beyond the "firing line" (downrange) UNLESS everyone knows to cease fire.
- See to it everyone is on the safe side before shooting commences, or recommences.