The Ten Commandments of Firearms Safety

The “Ten Commandments of Firearms Safety” is an excellent safety checklist that is taught in many hunter education courses and is well worth careful review by everyone who uses firearms:

1. Control the direction of the firearm’s muzzle. Keep the safety on and fingers off the trigger at all times until ready to shoot.
2. Identify the target and what is beyond it before shooting. Know the identifying features of the game hunted and be absolutely certain that what you are aiming at is that game.
3. Treat every firearm as if it is fully loaded.
4. Be sure the barrel and action are clear of obstructions and that only the proper size of ammunition is used in the firearm.
5. Always unload a firearm when it is not in use, leave the actions open (and locked if possible), carry empty firearms in a case to and from shooting areas.
6. Never aim a firearm at anything that you do not intend to shoot. Avoid all horseplay with a firearm.
7. Never climb a tree or fence, or jump a ditch or log, with a loaded firearm. Never pull a firearm towards you by the muzzle.
8. Never shoot a bullet at a flat, hard surface or at water. Make sure backstops and berms are adequate during target practice. For example, fire bullets into sand, soft dirt backstops and properly constructed steel bullet catchers.
9. Store firearms and ammunition separately and beyond the reach of children and careless adults.
10. Avoid all alcoholic beverages and drugs before and during shooting.