Manual
7
WISCONSIN:
"IF YOU LEAVE A LOADED FIREARM WITHIN THE
REACH OR EASY ACCESS OF A CHILD YOU MAY BE
FINED OR IMPRISONED OR BOTH IF THE CHILD
IMPROPERLY DISCHARGES, POSSESSES, OR EXHIBITS
THE FIREARM."
PLEASE CHECK WITH YOUR FIREARMS
RETAILER OR STATE POLICE FOR ADDITIONAL
REQUIREMENTS UNDER STATE OR LOCAL
LAWS OR REGULATIONS. SUCH LAWS AND
REGULATIONS CHANGE CONSTANTLY,
AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES ARE IN THE BEST
POSITION TO ADVISE YOU ON SUCH CHANGES.
BASIC RULES OF FIREARMS SAFETY
1. Treat all fi rearms as if they were loaded, at all times. Many
accidents occur with fi rearms that are handled carelessly,
because they are believed to be “unloaded”. These accidents
can be avoided by handling all fi rearms the same way you
would handle a loaded fi rearm, at all times. Even after you
verify that a gun is unloaded, you should continue handling
it as you would a loaded gun, and make sure that others
around you do the same.
2. Point the muzzle in a safe direction at all times. A “safe
direction” is one in which, if the fi rearm were to discharge,
there would be no injury to anyone. Never point a gun
(whether you think it is loaded or unloaded - see Rule #1
above) directly at another person or at yourself. Consider
that a bullet can ricochet (glance off) pavement, fl oors, walls,
rocks, the ground, water, ice or almost any other object
it strikes. Also, bullets can penetrate walls, ceilings, floors,
doors, windows, and many other materials to kill or injure
someone on the opposite side.
3. Keep your finger off the trigger and outside the trigger
guard until you are aimed at a proper target and have
decided to fire. If your finger is inside the trigger guard, you
could fire your gun without intending to - for instance, if
you were startled, or if you slipped or lost your balance. By
keeping your finger outside the trigger guard until you are
on target and intend to fire, you ensure that you will never
hit anything you do not intend to.
4. Be sure of your target, and what is around and beyond
it. The bullet fired from your pistol can travel over a mile,
and has the potential to kill or seriously injure someone
at that distance! Once you pull the trigger, you cannot call
the bullet back, so you must positively identify your target
before you fire. Never fire (for instance, at a noise,