FOUR UNIVERSAL RULES

These rules are the foundation of all safe gun handling. They are not optional. They must be followed every time you handle a firearm, without exception.

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1. Treat All Guns As If They Are Always Loaded. This is the most important rule. Never assume a firearm is unloaded. Any time you pick up a firearm, you must personally and visually verify that it is unloaded.

2. Never Point a Firearm at Anything You Are Not Willing to Destroy. A firearm should always be pointed in a safe direction. A "safe direction" is one where an accidental discharge would cause no injury or minimal property damage. Be conscious of where your muzzle is pointed at all times.

3. Keep Your Finger Off the Trigger Until Your Sights Are on the Target. Your finger should rest straight along the side of the frame, outside the trigger guard, until you have made the conscious decision to fire. This is the single best way to prevent an accidental discharge.

4. Be Sure of Your Target and What Is Beyond It. You must positively identify your target before you fire. Equally important, you must know what is in the area behind your target. A bullet can travel for more than a mile and will pass through walls, so you are responsible for every round you fire.

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