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Gun Safety
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Gun SafetyPlease visit
our Educational Courses page if
you wish to take a class for your Tennessee Carry Permit.
If you own a firearm please
practice these simple safety rules as provided by
the NRA for your own safety...
NRA Gun
Safety Rules
Available as a
brochure
The
fundamental NRA
rules for safe
gun handling
are:
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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
to control where
the muzzle or
front end of the
barrel is
pointed at all
times. Common
sense dictates
the safest
direction,
depending on
different
circumstances. |
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2. ALWAYS
keep your finger
off the trigger
until ready to
shoot.
When holding a
gun, rest your
finger on the
trigger guard or
along the side
of the gun.
Until you are
actually ready
to fire, do not
touch the
trigger. |
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3. ALWAYS
keep the gun
unloaded until
ready to use.
Whenever you
pick up a gun,
immediately
engage the
safety device if
possible, and,
if the gun has a
magazine, remove
it before
opening the
action and
looking into the
chamber(s) which
should be clear
of ammunition.
If you do not
know how to open
the action or
inspect the
chamber(s),
leave the gun
alone and get
help from
someone who
does. |
When using
or storing a
gun, always
follow these NRA
rules:
-
Know your
target and
what is
beyond.
Be
absolutely
sure you
have
identified
your target
beyond any
doubt.
Equally
important,
be aware of
the area
beyond your
target. This
means
observing
your
prospective
area of fire
before you
shoot. Never
fire in a
direction in
which there
are people
or any other
potential
for mishap.
Think first.
Shoot
second.
-
Know how
to use the
gun safely.
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.
Remember, a
gun's
mechanical
safety
device is
never
foolproof.
Nothing can
ever replace
safe gun
handling.
-
Be sure
the gun is
safe to
operate.
Just
like other
tools, guns
need regular
maintenance
to remain
operable.
Regular
cleaning and
proper
storage are
a part of
the gun's
general
upkeep. If
there is any
question
concerning a
gun's
ability to
function, a
knowledgeable
gunsmith
should look
at it.
-
Use only
the correct
ammunition
for your
gun.
Only BBs,
pellets,
cartridges
or shells
designed for
a particular
gun can be
fired safely
in that gun.
Most guns
have the
ammunition
type stamped
on the
barrel.
Ammunition
can be
identified
by
information
printed on
the box and
sometimes
stamped on
the
cartridge.
Do not shoot
the gun
unless you
know you
have the
proper
ammunition.
-
Wear eye
and ear
protection
as
appropriate.
Guns are
loud and the
noise can
cause
hearing
damage. They
can also
emit debris
and hot gas
that could
cause eye
injury. For
these
reasons,
shooting
glasses and
hearing
protectors
should be
worn by
shooters and
spectators.
-
Never use
alcohol or
over-the-counter,
prescription
or other
drugs before
or while
shooting.
Alcohol,
as well as
any other
substance
likely to
impair
normal
mental or
physical
bodily
functions,
must not be
used before
or while
handling or
shooting
guns.
-
Store
guns so they
are not
accessible
to
unauthorized
persons.
Many
factors must
be
considered
when
deciding
where and
how to store
guns. A
person's
particular
situation
will be a
major part
of the
consideration.
Dozens of
gun storage
devices, as
well as
locking
devices that
attach
directly to
the gun, are
available.
However,
mechanical
locking
devices,
like the
mechanical
safeties
built into
guns, can
fail and
should not
be used as a
substitute
for safe gun
handling and
the
observance
of all gun
safety
rules.
-
Be aware
that certain
types of
guns and
many
shooting
activities
require
additional
safety
precautions.
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Cleaning
Regular
cleaning is
important in
order for
your gun to
operate
correctly
and safely.
Taking
proper care
of it will
also
maintain its
value and
extend its
life. Your
gun should
be cleaned
every time
that it is
used.
A gun
brought out
of prolonged
storage
should also
be cleaned
before
shooting.
Accumulated
moisture and
dirt, or
solidified
grease and
oil, can
prevent the
gun from
operating
properly.
Before
cleaning
your gun,
make
absolutely
sure that it
is unloaded.
The gun's
action
should be
open during
the cleaning
process.
Also, be
sure that no
ammunition
is present
in the
cleaning
area.
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