Christmas has come and gone. Presents were exchanged, and memories were made. Many of us received new toys, and for some of us, those toys were new weapons to add to our gun safes. Although it should go unmentioned, sometimes a simple reminder is needed to review gun safety rules, not only for ourselves, but with those around us whom we hold close.

THE 12 GOLDEN RULES FOR SAFE GUN HANDLING

• Always treat the gun as a loaded weapon.
• Always keep the gun pointed in a safe direction.
• Always keep your finger straight and off the trigger until you are ready to shoot.
• Always keep the gun unloaded until you are ready to use it.
• Never point the gun at anything you don’t intend to destroy.
• Be sure of your target and what is beyond it.
• Learn the mechanical and handling characteristics of the gun you are using.
• Always use proper ammunition.
• Make sure the barrel is clear of obstructions before loading and shooting.
• If your gun fails to fire when the trigger is pulled, hold your shooting position for several seconds; then, with the muzzle pointed in a safe direction, carefully unload the gun.
• Don’t rely on the gun’s safety to keep it from firing.
• Be aware of your surroundings when handling guns so you don’t trip or lose your balance and accidentally point and/or fire the gun at anyone or anything.

Here is another tip: when using your weapon with your family or a group of people, decide on whom will be the group’s safety officer to keep an eye on opportunities to revisit a safety rule if needed.

Be safe!