Firearms Safety
- Handle all guns like they’re loaded! Never forget that a firearm has the potential to inflict serious injury or death in a moment of carelessness. Make safe use of the gun a habit that you always follow it. And after you remove the ammunition from a gun, keep handling it like it’s loaded.
- Always hold the barrel of your firearm in a safe direction! In choosing a safe direction, you should also keep in mind that a bullet can be ricocheted or changed direction by any object that strikes, and that bullets can penetrate the walls, ceilings, floors and windows. Remember: You should never aim with a gun (either loaded or empty) of another human being or yourself.
- Keep your finger away from the trigger of the gun and from the hammer until you have aligned the sights to a safe target and you have taken the decision to shoot! By keeping your finger completely out of the trigger until you mark the target, you warrant that any shots will be carried out safely in the direction of your goal.
- Always be sure that your target and surrounding area are safe before the shot! Remember that a bullet can travel several kilometers, so you need to be sure of what your bullet can hit before you pull the trigger. Never shoot in some motion, noise, flash, color or other target outside of your intended task.
- Whenever you operate a firearm, the first thing to do is to open the shutter to determine whether the gun is loaded or not. If you do not know the proper way to open the shutter of a particular firearm do not handle it. Instead, consult the manufacturer’s manual, your local gun dealer or some more experienced weapons user. Do not experiment.
- Thoroughly read the user manual supplied with your firearm! Never use any firearm unless you completely understand the features of its function and safety. If you do not have a user manual, contact either the store where you purchased your gun or with the manufacturer directly and ask to furnish you with a user manual.
- Before you shoot, you usually have to make sure that your firearm is in good working and that the barrel is clean and there is nothing to block the bullet! Any blockage preventing the bullet from moving easily can cause pressure increase and explode into the weapon. A small piece of mud, gun lubricant, consequence of excessive bribery or antirust, can cause pressure increase and explosion at the point where the barrel swells when shot, resulting in a damaged gun and possibly Serious body injury to the shooter or others around him.
- Only use ammunition recommended by the manufacturer is always sure to match the caliber of your weapon! Most modern firearms seal the determination of their caliber in the barrel (for example, “9×19”) your ammunition box should contain the exact same designation. Just because a bullet fits in your gun doesn’t mean it’s safe and use it. Firearms are designed, manufactured and tested in standards based on official factory ammunition. Retreaded ammunition that deviates from factory specifications should not be used. Use only the intended ammunition for your firearm. Attempting to shoot even once with a non-intended sphere can destroy your firearm and cause serious injury or even death.
- Eye and head ear protection is important. Ear plugs, glasses and hat must always be worn by the shooter or observer! Exposure to the noise of the shooting can permanently damage your hearing. Shooting glasses help protect against eye injuries from debris or casings.
- Never use firearms while you are under the influence of substances (drugs or alcohol)! Handling and using a firearm requires your full and constant attention, vigilance and unabated judgement. Avoid firearms taking drugs or other substances that can make you sleepy, slow down your reflexes and impair your normal senses or judgement.
- All firearms must be stored empty and secured in a storage location, inaccessible to children and untrained adults.
- The carriage of firearms is regulated by the laws. Always carry your firearm in a safe case, without ammunition and in accordance with applicable laws.
- No set of rules can cover all possible situations. The safe and rational use of a firearm depends on the common sense and the appropriate training of the user.
