Keep your finger off the trigger unless you are going to fire.
Always treat an unattended firearm as loaded and carry out the unload drills.
Always show that a firearm is unloaded to a person before you hand it to them.
When someone hands you a firearm, always check and make sure it is unloaded.
Never take a person’s word for what state a firearm is in.
Never point a weapon at anyone just for fun or play games with guns.
Always know what is behind your target.
Only fire controlled shots.
Always practice tactical drills with unloaded firearms, until you’re confident and competent enough to use live ammunition.
Always unload firearms before dry fire tactical training.
Use dummy or blank firing firearms for demonstration or dry fire drills.
Never mix blank and live rounds.
Always check that the gun is unloaded, before cleaning.
Never tamper with ammunition (unless trained to do so).
Never use damaged rounds.
Keep guns and ammunition in secure storage when not in use.
If you do not know how to operate or are having problems operating a firearm, get professional help.
Never used drugs or alcohol, when using firearms.
Always check and comply with local firearms laws.
All firearms should be treated as loaded at all times. You must learn how to handle firearms from an experienced and certified or approved firearms instructor. It is very important that you check out the background of the instructor, verify where they gained their experience and obtained their training. Only train with instructors, who have received their training from reputable training academies and have a good reputation. If someone cannot provide proof of experience and qualifications, the chances are the do have them.
Safety is the most important thing that you MUST learn and apply when using all firearms. Before you go on the range and use live ammunition, you must be able to perform your firearms safety drills competently. When you shoot for the first time, you should have individual supervision from a member of the range safety personnel. Only when you are able to perform your handguns safety and malfunctions drills efficiently and hit your targets consistently using the weapons sights at a minimum distances of 15 yards, should you seek advanced training or consider carrying a handgun for defensive purposes. As with everything you must learn to walk before you can run!
Many people, who own and carry handguns, have insufficient knowledge of the limitations of their weapons and expect more range, accuracy and stopping power than the weapon can provide. It is a sad fact that most people’s knowledge of firearms comes from what they see on their televisions. If you go to a gun range and watch other shooters, we expect it won’t belong before you see someone rapidly firing at a silhouette target not 10 yards away and putting rounds everywhere but in the vital areas. Remember: a shot inaccurately fired at a criminal can be disastrous for you or an innocent bystander.