The Basics of  FIREARMS SAFETY on the CPSC range
As a firearms owner and/or user, you must take responsibility for the safe
handling  and storage of your guns. You are taking the first step by  reading
this guide. Firearms safety is up to you! 

 1. HANDLE ALL FIREARMS AS IF THEY WERE LOADED.
 Never forget that a gun has the potential to produce serious injury or death
in a single instant of carelessness. Make safe gun handling a habit to be
followed at all times. After you determine that a gun is unloaded, continue to
handle it as if it were loaded. 

2. ALWAYS KEEP THE FIREARM POINTED IN A SAFE DIRECTION.
 In selecting a safe direction, you must also take into consideration that a
bullet can ricochet or glance off any object it strikes, and that bullets can
penetrate walls, ceilings, floors and windows.
 Remember: You should never point a gun (whether loaded   or unloaded) at
another person or yourself. 

 3. KEEP YOUR FINGER OUT OF THE GUN'S  TRIGGER GUARD AND OFF
THE  TRIGGER UNTIL YOU HAVE ALIGNED THE GUN'S SIGHTS ON A
SAFE TARGET  AND YOU HAVE MADE THE DECISION TO FIRE.
 By keeping your finger completely outside the trigger guard until you are
aimed at the target, you guarantee that any shots you fire will go safely in
the direction of your intended target. 

 4. ALWAYS BE CERTAIN THAT YOUR TARGET AND THE
SURROUNDING AREA  ARE SAFE  BEFORE FIRING.
 Remember that a bullet can travel as much as several miles, so you should
be certain of what your bullet could strike before you pull the trigger. Never
fire at a movement, a noise, a flash  of color or a rustling bush without
positively identifying your intended target. 

 5. WHENEVER YOU HANDLE A FIREARM, THE FIRST THING YOU
SHOULD DO (WHILE KEEPING IT POINTED IN A SAFE DIRECTION WITH
YOUR FINGER OUTSIDE THE TRIGGER GUARD) IS TO OPEN THE ACTION
TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THE FIREARM IS LOADED.
 If you don't know the proper way to open the action of a particular firearm -
don't handle it. Instead, consult the owner's manual, your local gun dealer, or
a more knowledgeable shooter. Do not experiment. 

 6. THOROUGHLY READ THE INSTRUCTION  MANUAL SUPPLIED WITH
YOUR FIREARM.
 Never use any firearm unless you completely understand its operation and
safety features. If you do not have an instruction manual, contact either the
retail store where you purchased your gun or the manufacturer directly and
request that one be furnished to you. 

 7. BEFORE FIRING YOUR WEAPON, YOU SHOULD ROUTINELY MAKE
SURE THAT YOUR FIREARM IS IN GOOD WORKING ORDER AND THAT
THE  BARREL IS CLEAR OF DIRT AND OBSTRUCTIONS.
Any obstruction that prevents the bullet from moving easily down the barrel
can cause pressure to build up in the weapon. A small bit of mud, gun grease,
excess lubricating oil, or rust can cause pressure to build to the point where
the barrel bulges or bursts upon firing, resulting in a damaged gun and
serious bodily injury to the shooter or those around him. 

 8. ONLY USE AMMUNITION RECOMMENDED BY THE FIREARM 
MANUFACTURER,  AND ALWAYS BE CERTAIN THAT THE AMMUNITION
MATCHES THE CALIBER OF YOUR GUN
Most modern firearms have their caliber stamped into the barrel (for
example, ".38 Special" or ".22 Long Rifle"). Your box of ammunition should
bear the exact same  designation. Just because a cartridge fits into your
gun doesn't mean it is safe to fire! Firearms are designed, manufactured,
and tested to standards based on factory loaded ammunition. Hand-loaded or
reloaded  ammunition deviating from factory specifications should not be
used. Use only the correct ammunition for your firearm. Attempting to fire
even a single improper bullet can destroy your gun and cause serious
personal injury or death. 

 9. QUALITY EAR AND EYE PROTECTION SHOULD ALWAYS BE WORN
WHEN  SHOOTING OR OBSERVING.
Exposure to the noise of gunfire can permanently damage your hearing if
protection is not worn. Shooting glasses, preferably with side panels, help to
guard against eye injuries from ejected cases and the splash-back of pebbles
and fragments from the backstop. Wearing eye protection when
disassembling and cleaning your gun will also prevent eye injuries from
loosened springs or other parts, as well as from aerosol solvents and
cleaning agents. 

 10. NEVER USE FIREARMS WHILE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF DRUGS
OR  ALCOHOL.
Handling and using a firearm requires your full and continuous attention,
alertness, and unimpaired judgment. Avoid handling  firearms while taking
prescription medicines which can make you drowsy, slow your reflexes, and
impair your normal senses or judgment. 

 11. ALL FIREARMS SHOULD BE STORED UNLOADED AND SECURED IN
A SAFE STORAGE CASE, INACCESSIBLE TO CHILDREN AND
UNTRAINED ADULTS.
 

12. THE TRANSPORTATION OF FIREARMS IS REGULATED BY LOCAL
LAWS.  ALWAYS TRANSPORT YOUR FIREARM IN A SAFE, UNLOADED
CONDITION  AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAWS.

REMEMBER - no set of rules can cover all possible situations. The safe and
rational use of a firearm depends on the common sense and proper training
of the user. Always follow safety rules and THINK before using any firearm.
 FIREARMS SAFETY  DEPENDS ON YOU. 
 
 
 
 
 

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