Treat every firearm as if it were loaded. Even if you know it is empty, act as if it is loaded. When picking up a firearm, immediately check if it is loaded, and then treat it as loaded regardless of whether it is or isn’t.
Always point the muzzle in a safe direction. Never allow the muzzle to point at something unless you are okay with seeing that thing with a bullet hole in it.
Be sure of your target, what is before and beyond your target. Clearly identify what you are shooting at before you shoot. Recognize the bullet can also strike things in front of or behind the target. Practically speaking, when target shooting, ensure that something behind the target will absorb misses safely. Usually a hill is sufficient.
Keep your finger outside the trigger guard until ready to shoot. Always leave your finger off the trigger until you are ready to discharge the weapon. A good place to rest it is usually just above the trigger, straight along the body of the gun. Moving it down to the trigger should be the very last thing you do immediately before firing the weapon.
Rules 1 and 4 have no exceptions that I can think of.
I’ll just leave this here.
The four rules of firearm safety:
Treat every firearm as if it were loaded. Even if you know it is empty, act as if it is loaded. When picking up a firearm, immediately check if it is loaded, and then treat it as loaded regardless of whether it is or isn’t.
Always point the muzzle in a safe direction. Never allow the muzzle to point at something unless you are okay with seeing that thing with a bullet hole in it.
Be sure of your target, what is before and beyond your target. Clearly identify what you are shooting at before you shoot. Recognize the bullet can also strike things in front of or behind the target. Practically speaking, when target shooting, ensure that something behind the target will absorb misses safely. Usually a hill is sufficient.
Keep your finger outside the trigger guard until ready to shoot. Always leave your finger off the trigger until you are ready to discharge the weapon. A good place to rest it is usually just above the trigger, straight along the body of the gun. Moving it down to the trigger should be the very last thing you do immediately before firing the weapon.
Rules 1 and 4 have no exceptions that I can think of.