At Shoot Straight, safety is our number one priority. All of our employees follow the four basic rules of firearm safety when handling firearms in the store and on the range. We expect that all of our customers abide by these rules (along with our Range Rules) as well. Whether you are new to guns or you are a long-time gun owner, the four basic rules of firearm safety are essential for creating a safe environment for everyone.
1. ALWAYS treat every firearm as if it is loaded.
If you treat every firearm the same way you would treat a loaded firearm, you will have to follow all of the other rules, too. Although the firearms in our stores spend most of their time in locked display cases or on shelves, we train our employees to check every firearm they touch. Remember that every time you pick up a firearm you must visually and physically inspect the chamber for a live round, even if you are the one who just put the firearm down.
2. ALWAYS keep your finger off the trigger until ready to fire.
Keeping your finger off of the trigger is the best way to prevent an accidental discharge or a negligent discharge. You will often hear this practice referred to as “indexing the weapon.” Simply put, this means that your index finger should remain outside and above the trigger guard at all times unless you are in the process of taking a shot.
3. ALWAYS keep the firearm pointed in a safe direction.
At Shoot Straight shooting ranges, the only safe direction is down-range toward the backstop. Otherwise, a safe direction can include the floor, the ceiling, a wall, or any space where no person could be caused unintentional harm by a negligent or accidental discharge. Picking a safe direction can be difficult because of the many factors that play into it. Are you on the first floor or the second floor? Is there a room behind the wall you are pointing at? Whatever the case, make sure that you remain aware of where the muzzle of your firearm is pointed at all times.
4. ALWAYS know your target and what is beyond it.
We only allow paper and cardboard targets on our ranges, and each of our shooting lanes has a backstop rated for various calibers. However, every shooter should be aware of what is going on down range so that no rounds accidentally strike our equipment. Whether you are at a Shoot Straight range or not, as a shooter you must always be aware of a) whether you have a backstop behind your target that is strong enough to stop projectiles and b) if not, what is behind your target or backstop?
By following these four basic rules of firearm safety while in our stores and shooting ranges, you help make Shoot Straight a safe environment for all of our customers and employees. Shoot Straight thanks you for being a safe and responsible gun owner. For more information, you can visit the following resources to find out more about gun safety:
