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SAFETY
Especially if you have children,
education is your biggest defense against
accidents. It may also be in you best interests to have a
quick-access safe/lock for your weapon. Here are the basic
principals to firearms safety.
Basic Firearm Safety
Rules
As a firearms owner
and user, you must take the responsibility for the safe handling
and safe storage of your firearm.
You are taking the
first step by reading this page, but you can go further by
enrolling in any one of the numerous shooting safety courses
available in your country.
Firearms safety is up
to you !
1) Handle all
firearms as if they were loaded!
Never forget that a
gun has the potential to produce serious injury or death in a
single instant of carelessness. Make safe gun handling a habit
to be followed at all times. After you determine that a gun is
unloaded, continue to handle it as though it were loaded.
2) Always keep your
firearm pointed in a safe direction!
In selecting a safe
direction, you must also take into consideration that a bullet
can ricochet or glance off any object it strikes, and that
bullets can penetrate walls, ceilings, floors and windows.
Remember: You should
never point a gun (whether loaded or unloaded) at another person
or at yourself.
3) Keep your finger
out of the gun's trigger guard and off the trigger until you
have aligned the guns sights on a safe target and you have made
the decision to fire!
By keeping your
finger completely outside the trigger guard until you are aimed
at the target, you guarantee that any shots you fire will go
safely in the direction of your intended target.
4) Always be certain
that your target and the surrounding area are safe before
firing!
Remember that a
bullet can travel as much as several miles, so you should be
certain of what your bullet could strike before you pull the
trigger. Never fire at a movement, a noise, a flash of color or
a rustling bush without positively identifying your intended
target.
5) Whenever you
handle a firearm, the first thing you should do (while keeping
it pointed in a safe direction with your finger outside the
trigger guard) is to open the action to determine whether or not
the firearm is loaded!
If you do not know
the proper way to open the action of a particular firearm - do
not handle it. Instead, consult the owner's manual, your local
gun dealer or a more knowledgeable shooter. Do not experiment
6) Thoroughly read
the instruction manual supplied with your firearm!
Never use any
firearm unless you completely understand its operation and
safety features. If you do not have an instruction manual,
contact either the retail store where you purchased your gun or
the manufacturer directly and request that one be furnished to
you.
7) Before firing
your weapon, you should routinely make sure that your firearm is
in good working order and that the barrel is clear of dirt and
obstructions!
Any obstruction that
prevents the bullet from moving easily down the barrel can cause
pressure to build up in the weapon. A small bit of mud, gun
grease, excess lubricating oil or rust can cause pressure to
build up to the point where the barrel bulges or bursts upon
firing, resulting in a damaged gun and serious bodily injury to
the shooter or those around him.
8) Only use
ammunition recommended by the firearm manufacturer, and always
be certain that the ammunition matches the caliber of your gun!
Most modern firearms
have their caliber designation stamped into the barrel (for
example, "9x19" or ".45 Auto") Your box of ammunition should
bear the exact same designation. Just because a cartridge fits
into your gun does not mean it is safe to fire. Firearms are
designed, manufactured and tested to standards based on factory
loaded ammunition. Hand-loaded or reloaded ammunition deviating
from factory specifications should not be used. Use only the
correct ammunition for your firearm. Attempting to fire even a
single improper bullet can destroy your gun and cause serious
personal injury or death.
9) Quality ear and
eye protection should always be worn when shooting or observing!
Exposure to the
noise of gunfire can permanently damage your hearing if
protection is not worn. Shooting glasses, preferably with side
panels, help to guard against eye injuries from ejected cases
and the splashback of peebles and fragments from the backstop.
Wearing eye
protection when disassembling and cleaning your gun will also
prevent eye injuries from loosened springs or other parts, as
well as from aerosol solvents and cleaning agents.
10) Never use
firearms while under the influence of drugs or alcohol!
Handling and using a
firearm requires your full and continuous attention, alertness
and unimpaired judgment. Avoid handling firearms while taking
prescription medicines which can make you draw drowsy, slow your
reflexes and impair your normal senses or judgement.
11) All firearms
should be stored unloaded and secure in a safe storage case,
inaccessible to children and untrained adults
12) The
transportation of firearms is regulated by laws. Always
transport your firearm in a safe, unloaded condition and in
accordance with applicable laws.
Remember - no set of
rules can cover all possible situations. The safe and rational
use of a firearm depends on the common sense and proper training
of the user. Always follow safety rules and think before using
any firearm.
FIREARM SAFETY DEPENDS
ON YOU !
© GLOCK 2000
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