GENERAL SAFETY RULES:
1. Keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction at all times.
2. Wear safety glasses and hearing protection.
3. Keep your finger OFF the trigger until on the firing line.
4. Load the firearm only on the firing line.
5. Absolutely no alcohol or drug use before or during shooting.
PISTOL & RIFLE RANGE SPECIFIC COMMANDS:
“Range Hot”
“Range Cold
“Cease Fire”
10 COMMANDMENTS OF SAFE FIREARM HANDLING
1. ALWAYS keep the gun pointed in a safe direction.
This is the primary rule of gun safety. A safe direction means that the gun is pointed so that even if it were to go off, it would not cause injury or damage. The key to this rule is muzzle control, namely controlling where the front end of the barrel is pointed. Common sense and awareness of the surroundings dictate what is the safest direction.
2. ALWAYS keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot.
When you hold a gun, rest your finger on the trigger guard or along the side of the gun. Do not touch the trigger until you are actually ready to fire. Use the safety, but remember that safeties sometimes fail.
3. Be sure of your target and what lies beyond it BEFORE firing.
A firearm and a pencil are both tools. The difference is that you can erase a mistake with a pencil; you can never erase a mistake made with a firearm.
4. Never place or carry a loaded firearm in or on a motor vehicle.
It is against Washington state law to carry a loaded firearm in a vehicle, not including concealed carry weapons.
5. Never use a firearm unless you are familiar with how it works.
Before handling a gun, learn how it operates. Know its basic parts, how to safely open and close the action and remove any ammunition from the gun or magazine. You can find this information from the manufacturer, a gunsmith, or an instructor.
If your gun misfires, point it down range and wait at least 30 seconds before checking the cause or opening the chamber.
6. Be sure the barrel and action are clear of obstructions.
An obstruction is anything in the barrel that shouldn’t be there: spider’s nest, dirt, snow, rain. These items can cause the firearm to misfire.
7. Never cross a fence, climb a tree, cross a stream, or jump a ditch with a loaded firearm.
Take the time to unload ANYTIME there’s a chance that you might lose muzzle control.
8. NEVER point a firearm at anything that you do not want to shoot.
Never shoot at a flat, hard surface such as water, concrete, or metal; ricochets are uncontrollable.
9. Unload firearms when they are not in use. Store firearms and ammunition separately.
A fire-rated gun safe is safest.
10. NEVER use drugs or alcohol before or during shooting.
This includes over-the-counter medications, prescription medications, anything that has a warning label, or that affects you individually. If you shouldn’t “operate machinery”, you shouldn’t be shooting.