Firearms are inherently dangerous so always be responsible, follow the rules of gun safety, including, but not limited to:
1. Treat all firearms as if they are loaded at all times.
Never assume a firearm is unloaded. Accidents happen when people assume a firearm is safe. Always treat the firearm as if it has ammunition in the gun at all times. Respect the potential of what a firearm can do, and always behave in a safe manner.
2. Never point a firearm at anything you are not willing to destroy.
Always keep firearms pointed in a safe direction. Don’t point the gun at anything you don’t want to shoot and always be aware of where the muzzle is pointed.
3. Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on the target.
Always keep your finger off the trigger and outside the trigger guard until you are ready to fire. The only time your finger should be on the trigger is when you are ready to fire.
4. Be sure of your target and what is beyond it.
Know what you are shooting at. Not only can you miss a target, but bullets can travel through targets and continue on. Always shoot within designated areas, and follow safety rules.
RESPONSIBILITY
Always secure your firearms from unauthorized persons. Be sure you alone are in control of your firearm and have it secured at all times. It is your responsibility to prevent others from accessing your firearms.
Always keep your firearm unloaded until it is ready for use. Pistol shooting sports are not a survival activity and all Practical Shooting competitions are held on “Cold Ranges.” This means no loaded guns are allowed on the range until a competitor is under the supervision of a Range Official in a designated shooting area.
Safety First. The competitive shooter is always responsible for their actions, and this includes safe firearm handling at all times.
Secure
You should ALWAYS store your firearm SAFELY and SECURELY. All new firearms come with locks, and it is important for your safety and the safety of others that you understand how to secure your firearm. Your firearm should be locked and stored in a safe location and only used by someone trained and authorized. It is recommended that you store your ammunition in a different location from your firearm and keep your gun unloaded while in storage.
Online Safety Resources
Project ChildSafe:
https://projectchildsafe.org
NRA Gun Safety Rules:
https://gunsafetyrules.nra.org
National Shooting Sports Foundation:
https://nssf.org/safety
Liberty Safe
https://www.libertysafe.com/collections/handgun-vaults
Firearm Safety FAQ
What are the four rules of firearm safety?
Treat every firearm as if it is loaded, never point it at anything you are not willing to destroy, keep your finger off the trigger and outside the trigger guard until your sights are on target, and be sure of your target and what is beyond it. Following all four every time is what prevents accidents.
Why should you always treat a gun as if it is loaded?
Most firearm accidents happen when someone assumes a gun is unloaded and stops being careful. Treating every firearm as loaded keeps you respecting what it can do and handling it safely at all times, so a mistaken assumption never turns into an accident.
What is a cold range in practical shooting?
Practical shooting competitions like USPSA and Steel Challenge are held on cold ranges, which means no loaded firearms are allowed until a competitor is in a designated shooting area under the supervision of a range official. Guns stay unloaded and holstered or cased the rest of the time.
How should you store a firearm safely?
Store your firearm unloaded, locked, and in a secure location that only trained, authorized people can access. New firearms come with locks, and it is best to keep your ammunition in a separate location from the gun for an added layer of safety.
Why does knowing your target and what is beyond it matter?
You can miss a target, and a bullet can also pass through a target and keep traveling, so you must know what is behind and around what you are shooting. Identifying your target and its backstop, and only shooting within designated areas, keeps rounds from reaching anything you did not intend to hit.